By rdnewsNOW staff

second presumptive case reported in edmonton

Alberta chief medical officer provides COVID-19 update

Mar 6, 2020 | 4:15 PM

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health has confirmed the province’s second presumptive case of novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.

The individual is a man in his 40s who lives in the Edmonton zone. Officials say the case is travel-related and that the man is recovering in isolation at home with support from public health officials.

“While I know some Albertans may be concerned by a second case, this is not unexpected. The risk to Albertans is still considered low. We have already isolated this individual and are taking swift action to implement immediate precautions to prevent the infection from spreading,” says Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Hinshaw says the affected individual recently returned from travel in the United States where he visited Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio, before returning to Alberta on Feb 28.

renowned doctor eager for its arrival

Fundraiser Oct. 18 to benefit Red Deer's cardiac catheterization goals

Oct 11, 2024

CASH OR FOOD DONATIONS NEEDED

Salvation Army food bank in need of donations amidst increased demand

Oct 11, 2024

Last Seen Oct. 11, 2024

Missing: Carl Joseph Schuyler, 59, of Delburne

Oct 11, 2024

The case was detected on Friday (March 6). Work is currently underway on identifying close contacts of the individual. Those people will be asked to self-isolate at home, away from the public. They will be closely monitored by public health officials. If they do develop symptoms, health officials will coordinate getting them into care immediately while ensuring that the public and health-care workers are not exposed.

Effective immediately, Alberta will be expanding its testing protocols. All travellers returning from outside of Canada are advised to monitor their symptoms. If they experience flu-related symptoms, such as a fever or a cough, they should self-isolate and call Health Link at 811 to arrange follow up testing. Returning travellers should not visit emergency departments or urgent care centres for testing. Calling 811 is the best way to get quick assessment and testing.

This applies only to returning travellers who are symptomatic with fever, or cough.

The risk of exposure is still considered low in Alberta, Hinshaw says, but that this may change over the coming weeks.

Alberta’s first case announced Thursday involved a woman in her 50s who lives in the Calgary zone.

(With file from Government of Alberta media release)