[JustKelli]

I got an email this morning after testing negative Wednesday advising me I am in the highest risk category due to a compromised immune system and self isolation is "strongly" advised. That is code for do it or we will...

Sometimes we need to scratch our heads at decisions and wonder which orifice they pulled them from... how did they arrive at these numbers and the exemptions???? The school ones are obvious though.

One serious case is a person returning from Florida... the daycare case below worries me.

All 23 cases in Alberta are travel related and haven't resulted in known transmission.

Quebec is contemplating quarantining Montreal after shutting its borders.

Article:
COVID-19: All events with more than 250 people in Alberta should be cancelled, Hinshaw says as cases climb

Author of the article:

Lisa Johnson

Publishing date:

8*hours ago**•**3 minute read

Article content

All gatherings of more than 250 people should be cancelled to limit the spread of COVID-19, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health said Thursday afternoon.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw also recommended Albertans not travel anywhere outside the country. Those who have already travelled should self-isolate upon return for 14 days regardless of where they went.

COVID-19: All events with more than 250 people in Alberta should be cancelled, Hinshaw says as cases climb

“These measures will have a significant impact on many people. This is a serious decision which we do not make lightly. This is an extraordinary situation which requires extraordinary measures,” Hinshaw said.

The directive on gatherings applies to sports events, conferences, and concerts, but does not extend to places of worship, grocery stores, malls or airports.

It also applies to any event with more than 50 people that will have international participants, health-care professionals or high-risk populations like seniors.

Schools and daycares are remaining open at this time, but they are encouraged to avoid large gatherings. Health officials are in discussions about potential closures, Hinshaw said, but they are concerned that closing schools will merely shift children in large groups to other places.

“With schools we need to take a little more time to consider the impact that those school closures would have, and weigh that out against potential public health benefits,” she said.

Ontario*announced Thursday it would close public schools*for two weeks following spring break.

No school in Alberta is considered a risk for transmission, said Hinshaw.

New cases come from growing list of risky destinations

The risk of exposure to the virus remains low, but there are increased concerns over exposure from international travellers bringing cases of the virus to Alberta, Hinshaw said.*In the past week, more cases coming from the United States involved travellers who did not consider themselves to be at risk.


“Given the number of cases that we have … we think we need to act aggressively and quickly,” said Hinshaw.

Four new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed Thursday, bringing the total in the province to 23. All are travel-related.

In Calgary, a downtown daycare*has been shut down after a child tested positive for COVID-19. Twenty-four employees, the centre’s 98 children and their parents are self-isolating. Anyone who might be at risk has been contacted.

The child, who is expected to make a full recovery at home, tested positive Wednesday after returning from a family vacation in Florida.

Hinshaw assured parents that cases of the COVID-19 illness in children typically involve mild symptoms.

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The other three newly confirmed cases involve a woman in her 30s, a man in his 50s, and a woman in her 70s from the Calgary area. They returned from trips to Jordan, Egypt, France, Germany and the United States.

Meanwhile, a parent of two Vegreville elementary school students*has tested positive for COVID-19 following a trip outside Canada. The spouse of the parent and the kids have not tested positive.