Thread by @alanna_smithh

The daily #COVID19 update from Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer, is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. I'll be listening in while @jasonfherring writes our main file today. @calgaryherald @calgarysun #yyc

Follow along below:

Here's a #COVID19 re-cap by my colleague @jasonfherring. This link also includes the livestream video of the press conference. @calgaryherald

calgaryherald.com/news/live-at-3…

BREAKING: Hinshaw says 10 new cases have been confirmed bringing the toal to 39 in Alberta. Six in the Calgary zone and four in the Edmonton zone. Two cases are in intensive care. The rest are isolating at home. #COVID19

She says we have to get used to the "new normal" and that new cases will continue to crop up in Alberta.

Hinshaw is circling back to her comments yesterday about keeping public schools open. She said while other provinces have chosen to close schools, Alberta is not making that call. However, they will continue to monitor the situation. #COVID19

The province will now post flight information or portions of a flight where passengers may have been exposed to #COVID19. They will not directly contact Albertans who were on these flights. People need to help the province and check themselves and respond accordingly.

In 24 hours, there have been more than 300,000 Albertans who have completed self-assessments with the new online tool.

Question period now.

The two individuals in intensive care, one in Edmonton Zone and the other in Calgary Zone, are both in their 60s.

Guidelines for schools and daycares: Hinshaw says there is a zero-tolerance policy for kids with #COVID19 symptoms. Going forward, any child with symptoms will be asked to not come to school or daycare and if they develop those symptoms they will be immediately isolated.

Availability of ventilators in the province: Many weeks ago, when #COVID19 started to escalate, AHS enhanced ventilator capacity with an additional 50 ventilators. Hinshaw can't comment on total capacity at this moment.

Back on schools: "What we are asking is for parents who know their children best to assess them before they go to school," says Hinshaw, adding this is a collective responsibility. We need to work together to curb the spread of #COVID19.

FYI the guide is available at alberta.ca/COVID19 with information for school and daycares. #COVID19

If there were school closures, they would likely have to go until the end of the year. It is a long-term decision so Alberta is not taking it lightly. #COVID19

There are no confirmed cases of community spread, however two of the ten new cases are unknown.

"These two cases that we have today, we are really aggressively investigating because it raises concern about community spread," says Hinshaw.

"The situation is changing dramatically every day," she says, adding its likely we will see community spread eventually. #COVID19

On Health Link 811 wait times:

"We are working to decrease those wait times," Hinshaw says. "I know it's frustrating. I know it's challenging but all I can say at the moment is we are trying multiple options to reduce that."

Hinshaw says any group gathering that involves people who have travelled internationally, those at high risk or critical infrastructure groups like nurses should not have gatherings over 50 people. Everyone should practice social distancing, proper hygiene etc. #COVID19

Here are all the flights that might be at risk of exposure to #COVID19, posted on the Alberta website. Passengers in affected seats are encouraged to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival in Canada and monitor for symptoms. alberta.ca/COVID19

https://twitter.com/SammyHudes/status/1238944139305082880?s=20

Here's @jasonfherring's main file from the #COVID19 update today. Province announces 10 new cases, including two requiring intensive care: calgaryherald.com/news/live-at-3… @calgaryherald