Thread by @EmmaLGraney

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney will give a #covid19 update today at 3pm MT, and Dr. Hinshaw will be up after that. Again, I'll be tweeting along. Because this is my life now. #ableg #cdnpoli

And we're off. Kenney says numbers of #covid19 in ALberta continue to rise, sends his condolences to the family of the Edmonton man who died. We've tested more than 17K ppl now. #ableg #cdnpoli

Kenney compliments and thanks ALbertans for being quite chill in managing this whole thing. In particular, thanks truckers and grocery store staff, janitorial staff to keep Alberta functioning
#ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

To announcements now on what the #ableg gvt is doing today to help protect jobs and the energy sector #cdnpoli #covid19

Starting next week, children's service will begin re-opening certain child care centres to allow health care workers to get care for their kids. Ltd to 30ppl including staff, will have to adhere to strict guidelines #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Soon police officers, fire fighters and other essential frontline workers will also be able to access those childcare centres, but for now just health care workers. Please only use that space if you have no other option, Kenney says #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

To homeless support: Expansion of the network of homeless shelters to help them cope with #covid19 pandemic. Hope Mission and Mustard Seed have IDd extra spaces, Expo Centre will be activated as a place for folks with illness #ableg #cdnpoli

In Calgary, Mustard Seed and Calgary Drop-In Centre also have additional space. They will block-book hotels for extra space. In Red Deer, Mustard Seed will stay there and Safe Harbour will move into a larger space #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Expanded homeless shelters will be supported by the additional $30m Kenney announced earlier this week. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

To economic actions for Alberta. Kenney says the oil price war in the midst of this pandemic highlights the need for Can, US to treat energy as key strategic assets. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

ENERGY ACTIONS: AER levies for O&G companies will be waived for 6 months. Mineral agreements expiring this year to be extended by one year. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Kenney releases full names of the economic recovery council chaired by Jack Mintz. Here are those folks... it includes Stephen Harper #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Kenney says these are extraordinarily busy people and they're not getting paid to do this. "This is an example of what I hope we can see coming through this time of adversity," he says. He'd like to see more of this, and of ppl looking out for each other #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

To Qs now. Kenney says we need to keep an eye on how much money is in ALberta's bank account... we can't over-commit here b/c revenues are through the floor. Kenney says the gvt is looking at options for renters #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Kenney says emergency cash should help renters who need emerg assistance. "Any good landlord is going to show flexibility to their tenants now," he says, b/c who's going to take that space if they don't? #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Kenney says if the gvt were to absolutely stop evictions, it might hit mom and pop landlords. Also says landlords need to be able to deal with really bad tenants. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

To childcare spaces, it'll be around 15,000 spaces for health care workers. Parents will hear about those spaces through their employers to ensure the spaces are targeted at specific frontline workers #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Schulz says there will be strict rules around the operation of these childcare centres to keep health measures in place #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Is there any conversation around Alberta Works program? Kenney says income support will for sure be a thing they're looking at. The requirement that ppl search for work is probably irrelevant b/c of what's happening in the economy right now, he says #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

The gvt is looking at relaxation of eligibility requirements for Alberta Works program #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Over to the economic panel: Kenney says they will make a long-term plan for the Alberta economy. That's their focus. It's not crisis work for them - it's broad picture stuff #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Kenney says this will be the most challenging time in our economy for several decades. He also cites a $5 WCS price but I haven't seen that. Current Bloomberg chart for the past day is hardly pretty, tho: #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Kenney fully expects the next Alberta jobs chart to be the worst in history #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

"I cannot overstate how challenging this time is going to be," Kenney says. Some good news? After the height of the pandemic there will be a signif global recovery, but Alberta will remain to be hard-hit with oil prices #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

"We will spare no expense to fight the pandemic," Kenney says #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Kenney asked what exactly is the scope of what is needed here for the energy sector. He says last week was completely different in terms of what was required, and this is not a normal situation where you can "put the pedal to the metal" on fiscal policy #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Government's focus is on the liquidity crisis for families and also for the energy industry. Gvt is also developing a stimulus strategy for Alberta... we're likely to see that in the summer when the dust hopefully settles a little #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Kenney says Ottawa's moves have been good so far, but says we cannot afford to lose the largest subsection of the Canadian economy - and that's the energy sector. He believes that message is being heard by the feds. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Kenney says he heard significant words of solidarity on a premiers' call yesterday and that's giving him hope #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Final Q is in French. It's about oil prices I think, and the new reality of the current economy (WAIT A SECOND OH MY GOD AM I PICKING UP FRENCH??) #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

OK! And over to Dr. Hinshaw... aaaaaany second now... #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

There are now 49 news cases of #covid19 cases in Alberta, bringing us to 195 cases. Up to 11 of those cases are likely community transmission. 10 ppl are in hospital and 5 are in ICU (that's 3 more since yesterday). We also have THREE RECOVERIES!! HOORAY!!! #ableg #cdnpoli

Hinshaw says there has also been awesome work by AHS on contact-tracing, and that is what's helping to contain the spread of the virus. Alberta has still been conducting among the highest number of tests per-capita #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

That's some of the highest testing rates in the world, btw, not just Canada. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

New measures in seniors facilities: Only a single, designated person can visit a person in a seniors facilities. That person must be screened and security/greeter must be there to check. Exemption is if someone is dying, even then it'll be one at a time. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Hinshaw encourages people to "pick up the phone" to talk to a senior. She reiterates the importance of the current health measures in place, including self-isolation if you've just returned from overseas (I'm looking at you, snowbirds) #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Hinshaw says people *should* go outside, just stay 2m away from other people. At this point farmers markets are a-ok and can be open, but AGAIN if you do so, practice social distancing. Funerals can happen, but must be less than 50 ppl #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Oh and don't hug anyone at a funeral (my note: Oh man that is soooooo hard) #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Hinshaw sharing nice stories that have been told to her via twitter. She thanks them all, and thanks teachers for all of their support for kids #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

"Albertans are responding to this in extraordinary ways" and she emphasis the need for personal self-care. With that in mind, she's taking this weekend off to chill with her family and I don't think anyone will blame her for that #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

To Paul Wynnyck... changes to the emergency management act will allow provincial and municipal emergencies to happen *at the same time* so that local authorities will be able to respond to emergencies #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Hinshaw says of the new ICU cases, one person is in their 60s, one in their 70s... third unknown (as in, not entered into data yet). Every single case could end up in a serious condition, she says, which is why we must take this seriously #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

How does Hinshaw feel about these #s? The majority of cases are ppl from outside ALberta and that's evidence of self-isolation in action, she says. Every single case needs to be contained, she says. The most concerning ones are those who went out when ill #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Yo don't have buffets, she says (yeah, paraphrase) #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

As for the local states of emergency, provincial direction would always over-ride local direction #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Is it safe to order-in food? Yeah guys go for it, but if you're worried transfer that into a bowl after you get it and wash your hands. But *again* this virus is not food-borne, so guys you can still eat food from takeout etc #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

The virus has an incubation period of two weeks. Hinshaw is expecting impact of social distancing measures to have an effect in two weeks... they'll need to be sustained "for weeks to come" though #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

The USA has been the #1 cause of cases in Alberta, so the closure of that border is incredibly important, Hinshaw says. But again, supply chains must continue #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Hinshaw says there have been discussions nationally to ensure testing can be done in the best and most effective way possible #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Here are the latest numbers per health zone, btw #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Can you get #covid19 twice? Hinshaw says swabs can't tell if the virus is live & viable or just copies of the virus DNA just chillin'. It's about an 8-day maximum for the virus to be alive in their system, so it could just be that they were tested in that period #ableg #cdnpoli

So yeah basically nobody has any idea if you can for sure get #covid19 twice or not. It's too new to know for sure. #ableg #cdnpoli

I'll just add here as I think about #covid19 that the human body is just *wild* isn't it!? Like... when you think about it... it's just... #ableg #cdnpoli

Hey and if someone is a professional and part of a college, and you know they're not self-isolating when they should, contact that person's college (so like the dental regulatory college, for example). #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Hinshaw says look if someone's not following the guidance, just remind them #covid19 is NOT to be taken lightly and they should stay home. Unlikely there will be a number to dob in your average Albertan tho. Might we see fines like in Sk? No decisions made. #ableg #cdnpoli

Hinshaw says we're trying to balance the correct health response with the need to, ya know, live in a society. That's the end. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19