The number of COVID-19 related deaths in Alberta has risen by five over the past 24 hours.
The patients include two women in the Calgary Zone, one in her 70’s and one in her 50’s, as well as two men in their 80’s in the Edmonton Zone and a man in his 30’s in the North Zone.
According to Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, all five patients had risk-factors, including chronic medical conditions. She adds the news of multiple COVID-19 related fatalities in a single day is a pain that will be shared by all Albertans.
“Each one of these individuals had a life that mattered, and people who loved them, so I think that’s the hard part, is having so many in one day.”
She says her counterparts across the country came to a consensus over the weekend to implement a uniform set of rules restricting anyone under quarantine to their property. People recently returned to Canada from outside the country, or if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, are no longer allowed to go for walks in the neighbourhood or visit any kind of public outdoor space like a park.
Hinshaw says those under quarantine and self-isolation must stay inside their own property, rented or owned, for the 14 day period. She says they are only allowed outdoors on their balcony, deck or in their backyard.
Overall, the number of cases across the province increased by 30 from Sunday, with 691 confirmed cases in total across the province, 46 cases are in the Central zone. Cases found in Vermilion River County remains at two.
Dr. Hinshaw adds the number of fully recovered cases has also increased to 94 across Alberta and notes the province is no longer testing returning travellers. As of March 30th, 46,057 tests have been completed across Alberta.