Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, has tested negative for COVID-19

By rdnewsNOW staff

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Alberta’s chief medical officer of health gives latest COVID-19 update

Mar 17, 2020 | 3:15 PM

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health and officials will provide an update on COVID-19 and the ongoing work to protect public health.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, who has tested negative for COVID-19, provided the update in person after doing so via video conference on Monday.

Hinshaw said the province is cancelling all elective surgeries with staff being redeployed to the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Oncology and urgent surgeries will go ahead.

23 additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Alberta, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 97. Cases have now been identified in all zones across the province:

– 70 cases in the Calgary zone

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– 20 cases in the Edmonton zone

– three cases in the Central zone

– three cases in the South zone

– one case in the North zone

Earlier Tuesday, Premier Jason Kenney announced the province as a whole will be declaring a state of public health emergency. It will include aggressive public health measures, including additional limits to mass gatherings, are being implemented province-wide to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect Albertans.

Officials continue to reiterate that the most important measures that Albertans can take to prevent respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, is to practice good hygiene. This includes cleaning your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face, coughing or sneezing into your elbow or sleeve, disposing of tissues appropriately, and staying home and away from others if you are sick.

Anyone who has health concerns or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should complete an online COVID-19 self-assessment.

For recommendations on protecting yourself and your community, visit alberta.ca/COVID19.