Albertans in mandatory self-isolation must stay where they are quarantined, Dr Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health for Alberta said today.
鈥淚f you are quarantined because you recently came back from abroad or are a close contact of a confirmed case you must remain on your own property,鈥� she said.
Hinshaw said the change in rules comes after a meeting with her counterparts from across Canada.
She said they are now making the uniform recommendation because of the risk of people getting ill while they were out.
Those under mandatory self isolation cannot leave their property 鈥渦nder any circumstances鈥� but can go out in a private back yard, or on a deck or balcony.
Hinshaw added that those who live in apartment blocks must stay inside their unit and cannot use stairwells or elevators.
鈥淚 know that this is incredibly difficult but this is what we must do to protect each other,鈥� said Hinshaw. 鈥淪taying inside does save lives.鈥�
29 new cases, 5 deaths in Alberta
Five people died from coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total to eight.
鈥淚 would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of these individuals,鈥� said Hinshaw. 鈥淭his news is heartbreaking for all of them.鈥�
Two of the people who died were in long term care facilities or seniors housing - a man in his 70s from Calgary and a man in his 80s from Edmonton.
The other three patients were a woman in her 50s from Calgary, a man in his 80s from Edmonton and a man in his 30s from the North Zone.
Hinshaw said while all of these people had risk factors like age or chronic medical condition, 鈥渢hese deaths speak to the seriousness of COVID-19鈥�.
A further 29 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, bringing the total in Alberta to 690. The case count in Jasper remains at one.
Hinshaw said the reason the number of confirmed cases is less than we鈥檝e previously seen is due to a number of reasons.
There has been a decrease in daily tests due to challenges with lab testing supplies, plus Alberta has stopped testing returning travellers.
Up to 65 of Alberta鈥檚 690 cases may be due to community transmission - i.e. there is no clear link to a previously known case.
Hinshaw described that number as 鈥渃oncerning鈥�.
鈥淲e must double our efforts to protect those most vulnerable to the effects of this virus,鈥� said said.
鈥淭ake care of yourself and others in this difficult time. We are all in this together.鈥�
