Thread by @EmmaLGraney

Awaiting the latest Alberta #covid19 briefing from Dr. Hinshaw, the provincial chief medical officer of health. It's 20 minutes late which is... unusual. Standby! #ableg #cdnpoli

Ok. 42 new cases of #covid19 now up to 301 cases, and up to 24 community transmission. 18 in hospital, 7 in ICU, no more deaths. 11 of the docs who attended that curling bonspiel have tested positive, and some had contact with patients afterwards #ableg #cdnpoli

Mild symptoms such as a sore throat and runny nose, and small things like using buffet utensils can be enough to transmit #covid19. Now over to isolation info: 10 days of self-isolation is enough IF your symptoms have resolved, otherwise stay home #ableg #cdnpoli

If you have returned from overseas, though, you MUST stay home for 14 days upon your return. If you then get symptoms, you stay home for another 10 days from the onset of illness. So if you're home 10 days and get ill, you'll end up staying home 20 days #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Hinshaw says testing has changed so we can better understand the community spread of #covid19. Again, if you have traveled stay the heck home for 14 days. She says #1 thing you can do if you have symptoms isn't to be tested but to stay home #ableg #cdnpoli

I know this may upset some people, Hinshaw says, but for mild cases of #covid19 staying home and isolated is the best thing you can do #ableg #cdnpoli

All doctors and health care workers in Alberta will now be screened before they start their shift. Anyone who show any illness/high temp will be told to go home. The only exemption will be if no other options, but there'll be extra safety measures #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Hinshaw says guys, go for walks, enjoy the sunshine, but maintain a distance of 2m between you and other people and don't touch handrails or bins. Also, don't go to provincial parks GUYS STOP IT. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Keeeep a physical diiiiistaaaance, she says (no she did not sing it, but I did in my mind), but please do keep in touch with people. NEW THING!! It's called text4hope: You can text 393939 and you'll get daily uplifting texts #ableg #covid19 #cdnpoli

To Qs. Hinshaw asked how close AB is to full closures like Ontario and Qc. She says they were slightly ahead of cases and she's monitoring it daily to see if we need to bring that into play #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

To snowbirds. Are you getting info that peeps aren't taking isolation seriously? Hinshaw says the gvt is trying to get messaging out and they're working on the feds on that #covid19 #ableg #cdnpoli

If you know someone who is returning, and you can help them get supplies, please do so. We don't want those folks out in public spaces #cdnpoli #ableg #covid19

Hinshaw says community transmission is so important to monitor b/c #covid19 is incredibly contagious. These measures won't stop it, but we need to shift the trajectory. Further monitoring on further measures here, but that'll depend on further case numbers #ableg #cdnpoli

LOL Rick Bell says he almost got into a scrap about social distancing on the weekend. Hinshaw says on #covid19 measures like store closures not being followed, you can contact health officers thru alberta.ca/coronavirus-in… #ableg #cdnpoli

Will health inspectors just do some random inspections now to enforce #covid19 measures? Hinshaw says she'll have to look into that. #ableg #cdnpoli

Over to taxt4hope, Hinshaw says as humans we want to be in contact with others -- we need to think of this as physical distancing with social connectedness. #ableg #cdnpoli

Hinshaw says she doesn't expect the new testing regime will result in fewer tests, it'll just be different. Also if you have a test booked you'll still get it. Hinshaw expects full lab capacity to be used despite the change, and new policy could also change #ableg #cdnpoli

Will dorms, hotels be converted to house the homeless? Hinshaw says each city is looking at what might fit for them. "There will be different measures put in place for each location." #covid19 #ableg #cdnpoli

AHS is looking at capacity in and outside of hospitals... they want most care to happen outside of hospitals but they'll be ready if Albertans need hospitals #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Are oil camps safe? Hinshaw says each location needs to be looked at separately... can they self-isolate if ill? Have they stopped buffet dining? We need to weigh the risks of this virus with social and health measures. She's assessing measures each day #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

Alberta has pushed testing to around 3,000/day. Hinshaw says in an ideal world everyone could get tested, buuuut it's unlikely Alberta could reach that kind of capacity, so we need to focus testing. #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19

As Hinshaw again dives into the curling bonspiel, I just realized I've been clenching my jaw allll day. 11 of 47 have tested positive for #covid19. Are there concerns of a domino effect? Hinshaw says yeah, and that's why public health follow-up work is happening #ableg #cdnpoli

Hinshaw asked about a fine for folks who aren't following quarantine directives. The gvt is still looking at that to enforce public health measures, she says. And that's the end... and I have unclenched my jaw #ableg #cdnpoli #covid19