CURRENT SITUATION UPDATE – JUNE 10-15, 2020

I have combined information from press conferences, news releases and other sources since the last Update. Anything in green is an update on something from the last one I sent out or on an outbreak. Anything bracketed in [bold and italic]s are my comments. 

If you would like to see anything that I sent out previously, or have a question on a particular topic, please ask me and I will be pleased to send to you whatever I have. 

If anyone has anything helpful to add, please send it to me and I will include it. Linda

• New Info on COVID-19   
• Potential Treatments 
• Around the World
• Canada
• Other Provinces
• Alberta
• Good News Stories

NEW INFO ON COVID-19 

POTENTIAL TREATMENTS/TESTS

–WORLD NEWS–

Anti-Racism Protests 

            These continue in the US and in some other countries. There have been some here in Canada, although there has been more coming to light in Canada about racism towards indigenous people. 

A dash cam video has surfaced of what happened to Chief Allen Adam.   

Other Illnesses Making a Resurgence Due to COVID-19

            COVID-19 is having an undesired effect on normally preventable illnesses. Many countries suspended their inoculation programs, cargo flights carrying vaccine supplies were halted by the pandemic and health workers were diverted to fight it. In some countries where vaccines were available, people were afraid to send their children for inoculations for fear of catching COVID-19 while lining up for shots. 

            Diptheria is appearing in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. 

            Cholera is in South Sudan, Cameroon, Mozambique, Yemen and Bangladesh. 

            A mutated strain of poliovirus has been reported in more than 30 countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan where 61 cases of a wild poliovirus Type 1 has been reported.   Pakistan, along with Chad, Ghana, and Ethiopia have also experienced cases of Type 2 poliovirus which mutated from the oral vaccine. 

            Measles has been reported in a number of countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic  of the Congo, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Nigeria and Uzbekistan.  29 countries have suspended measles campaigns because of their pandemic, 18 are reporting outbreaks. An additional 13 countries are considering postponement. Chibuzo Okonta, president of Doctors Without Borders  in West and Central Africa says the risk is “an epidemic in a few months’ time that will kill more children than COVID.” 

World wide  8,118,671 cases; 439,196 deaths;  4,216,318 recoveries

Just to keep this in perspective: 

• flu affects 1 billion people and causes 291,000 to 646,000 deaths worldwide (source: Johns Hopkins Medicine)
• The Spanish flu affected 1/3 of the people in the world at the time and killed between 50-100 million people. 

Around the World 

COVID-19 affects 213 countries and territories around the world. 

Brazil

• Brazil now has 891,556 cases and 44,118 deaths,  464,774 have recovered.
• Brazil is the 2nd highest in the world, behind only the US. It is also now 2^nd in total deaths, behind the US and UK, but these are likely still underreported.  

Britain

• Britain now has 296,857 cases and 41,736 deaths. There is no information on recoveries.
• UK has dropped to 5^th in total number of cases, as India’s cases increase. It has also dropped to 3^rd in total deaths as Brazil’s deaths overtook Britain’s.  
• UK has the 2^nd highest deaths per million people – 615 per million, behind only Belgium with 834 per million.
• Britain is requiring a two-week quarantine for international visitors.  
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to get EU negotiations on Brexit done over the summer. Negotiations have been slowed due to the pandemic. Negotiators on both sides became ill with the virus which slowed discussions further. The deadline for negotiations to wrap up is December 31.  

Chile

• Chile’s cases are increasing, as are many other South American nations. 
• Chile is now reporting 179,436 cases, but so far the death toll is low at still low at 3,362, although that has increased half again in the last week. 148 ,792 have recovered. 
• Chile is now 12^th highest in cases in the world. 

 China

• China is reporting 83,221 cases with 4,634 deaths and 78,377 recovered. 
• Beijing is reporting dozens of cases linked to a major wholesale food market. All workers at the market as well as those who have visited the market or been in contact with anyone who had done so have been ordered to quarantine for 14 days. 
• There have been no new cases in the city for almost 2 months until a positive case on June 12; since then the total number has reached 51. 
• At least 10 cities have urged residents not to visit Beijing and to report to authorities if they have one so recently. 

Denmark

• Denmark is reporting 12,217 cases with only 598 deaths. 11,090 have recovered. 
• Denmark is opening its borders but is not allowing tourists from Sweden. 
• Denmark is one of the countries that has done better in controlling COVID-19 and is only 55^th in number of cases. 

France

• France has 157,372 cases and 29,436 deaths, 73,044 people have recovered. 
• France has dropped to 13^th in overall cases, but remains 5^th in total deaths. It remains at 6th in deaths per million – 451 per million

 Germany

• Germany has 188,044 cases with 8,885 deaths, 172,600 people have recovered. 
• Germany has dropped to 10^th in overall cases, but its death toll is much lower than other countries with high case numbers. 

Greece

• Greece has 3,134 cases with 184 total deaths. 1,374 people have recovered. 
• Greece has done much better than the rest of Europe. It locked down the country after the first death was experienced, and was able to contain and suppress the virus. 
• Of its 18 million inhabitants, Greece has suffered only 184 deaths. 
• Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is only cautiously optimistic that the summer toureist season could be saved. 

India                                                                            

• India now has 343,091 cases and 9,915 total deaths, with 180,320 recoveries.
• India has moved past UK and Spain to become 4^th overall cases.  

Italy

• Italy is now reporting 237,290 cases and 34,371 deaths, 177,010 people have recovered.
• Italy is 7^th in overall case numbers, but has slipped to 4^th in total deaths, as Brazil’s and India’s numbers increase.  
• Italy still has the 4^rd highest deaths per million people – 568 per million, behind Belgium, UK and Spain.
• Italy is still recording several hundred new cases every day, mostly in Lombardy in the north, where Milan is situated. 
• Italy opened its doors on June 3, to the Schengen area of 27 European countries – most of them members of the European Union – plus Britain. 
• Travellers outside of those areas, including Canada and the US, face 2 weeks’ mandatory quarantine. Air Canada is due to relaunch direct flights to Rome from Toronto and Montreal on June 2. 
• Visitors are not rushing to visit, however. The Colosseum, which normally sees 20,000 visitors a day, is attracting only a few hundred. Visitors must reserve online, wear masks, undergo a temperature scan and respect the  one-metre physical distancing rule . Group tours are limited to 20 people.  

Iran

• Iran’s cases are still increasing. It now has 189,876 cases, and 8,825 deaths; 150,590 have recovered.
• Iran has moved up to 9^th in number of cases.  

Mexico

• Mexico is experiencing continued increase in cases. They are now reporting 150,264 cases (an increase of 3,427 today), with 17,580 deaths; 113,006 have recovered.
• Mexico is still in the No 14 spot. 

 Netherlands

• The Netherlands is reporting 48,948 cases and 6,065 deaths. There is no current information on recoveries. 
• The Netherlands has dropped to 26^th in overall cases, but 7^th in deaths per million population, with 354 deaths per million, behind Belgium, UK, Spain, Italy, Sweden, and France. 

Pakistan

• Pakistan is reporting 148,921 cases (an increase of 4,443 today), and 2,839 deaths. 56,390 people have recovered.
• Pakistan is coming close to Mexico’s total cases and could possibly overtake it soon. 

Peru

• Peru’s number of cases is still increasing. It is up to 232,992 cases, and 6,860 deaths; 119,409 have recovered.
• The number of cases is due to Its proximity to Brazil which is South America’s hotspot.
• It is still has the 8^th highest cases in the world.  

Russia

• Russia’s cases continue to climb but it remains third in cases behind only the US and Brazil. Russia has 537,210 cases, 7,091 deaths and 284,539 are reported as recovered. 

Spain

• Spain is reporting 291,189 cases and 27,136 deaths, There is no current information on recoveries.
• Spain has now slipped to 6^th highest in cases behind the US, Brazil, Russia, India and UK, and 6^th in deaths behind US, Brazil, UK, Italy,  and France.
• Spain remains at 3^rd  highest in deaths per million population – still 580 per million people, behind Belgium and UK. 
• Spain will reopen its borders on June 21, although it is allowing a few thousand German tourists into the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca and Ibiza, for a trial run, without having to quarantine. 

Sweden

• Sweden now has 52,283 cases and 4,891 deaths. There is no current information on recoveries.
• Sweden is in the 25^th position in overall cases, and quite far down the list in overall death toll. It ranks  5^th in deaths per million population, behind Belgium, UK, Spain and Italy. 

Turkey

• Turkey is reporting 179,831 cases and 4,825 deaths; 152,364 have recovered.
• Turkey remains as the 11^th highest in number of cases. 

United States

• The US now has 2,182,950 cases and 118283 deaths, 889,866 have recovered. 
• US deaths are 357 per million people, 7^th behind Belgium, UK, Spain, Italy, Sweden, and France, edging the Netherlands out by 3 deaths per million.
• With all the large demonstrations going on around the US, there is a lot of concern that cases may surge. 
• New cases and hospitalizations are occurring in a number of US States. 
• Alabama reported a record number of new cases for the 4^th day in a row. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Carolina all had record numbers of new cases in the past 3 days. Louisiana saw new cases on the rise again with more than 1200 – the most since May 21. Many state health officials partly attribute the increase to gatherings over the Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. It may also be partly attributable to increased testing. 
• Some states are also seeing an increase in hospitalizations. Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas and Utah all had a record number of patients enter hospital on Saturday. 
• Utah’s governor announced last week that most counties would pause their reopenings. However most states are not considering a second shutdown as they face budget shortfalls and double-digit unemployment. 
• New York has used health guidelines to direct its reopening and has continued to see decreased new cases and hospitalizations. However, Governor Andrew Cuomo warned New York City and Long Island that they must stop further large gatherings or they may have to roll back reopening.  

Canada  

• Canada remains at 17^th in the world in number of cases.    
• Confirmed cases        99,147
• Deaths                          8,175
• Recoveries                  61,042
• No. of Tests:          2, 183,476

Areas in Canada with cases of COVID-19 as of JUNE 15, 5:00 pm MDT

• Province, territory or other                    Confirmed          Deaths     Recovered
• British Columbia                                       2,745                168          2,181
• Alberta                                                      7,453                 150          6,245
• Saskatchewan                                               683                  13           5680
• Manitoba                                                     304                    7             278
• Ontario                                                    32,370            2,519        21,810
• Quebec                                                    54,054            5,222        16,070
• New Brunswick                                            160                   2             120
• Nova Scotia                                               1,061                 62             978
• Prince Edward Island                                      27                   0               27
• Newfoundland and Labrador                      261                   3             255
• Yukon                                                               11                   0               11
• Northwest Territories                                     5                   0                 5
• Nunavut                                                           0                   0                 0
• Repatriated travellers                                  13                   0    Unknown

Up-to-date information is available at Canada.ca/COVID-19

Some of these numbers seem to be from June 14, so hopefully the site will be updated soon.  

–Canadian News –

Trudeau Promises CERB Extension

          The Prime Minister says that the federal government will be announcing some form of an extension to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.  He says details will come later in the week. 

          As of June 4, the federal government has distributed $43.5 billion in CERB payments to 8.4 million applicants. The federal government’s most recent estimate is that the CERB will cost $60 billion under the existing terms. 

          As many as 2 million CERB recipients will exhaust their benefits in early July, with another 6 million to follow. 

More Small Business to Have Access to CEBA

Minister of Finance Bill Morneau announced that as of Friday, June 10, applications will be accepted so that more small businesses can access the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). Owner-operated small businesses that had been ineligible for the program due to lack of payroll, sole proprietors receiving income directly, as well as family-owned corporations paying with dividends rather than payroll will be able to apply. 

Surplus Food Rescue Program

          Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, today launched the $50 million Surplus Food Rescue Program. The program aims to move surplus food commodities such as potatoes and other possible horticulture, fish and seafood and meat through the system as efficiently as possible to help vulnerable Canadians. 

          For more information, Surplus Food Rescue Program

Parliament

          Parliament is still at a stalemate. The Liberal government is asking Parliament to fast track its promises for various benefits, including a one-time $600 payment to people who are disabled, and claims the Conservatives won’t vote for it. 

          None of the other parties are agreeing to go along with the Liberals, although they each have different reasons. 

          The Conservatives have said that, although they support assisting people with disabilities, they will not agree to fast-track anything until Parliament resumes sitting. They say there is no reason for Parliament not to be in session, especially when other levels of government are sitting, Parliaments in other countries like UK, Australia and New Zealand are sitting. Also, if the PM could take part in an anti-racism protest, there is no reason for him to not attend Parliament.  

          The NDP doesn’t feel the bill goes far enough and want the benefit to benefit all disabled people not just those who get the Disability Tax Credit as the Liberals have presented. They also do not agree that anyone fraudulently obtaining the CERB should be punished. 

          The Bloc has a list of requirements it wants to government to agree to in order to get support from the Bloc. 

Temperature Checks on Air Travel Within Canada

          The Prime Minister announced that passengers travelling by air within Canada will need to undergo mandatory temperature checks. 

Provinces

 British Columbia

• British Columbia is trying to get its court system back on track with numerous changes. 
• The new system will begin on July 6. 
• In-person appearances will be reduced and technology will be used to allow an accused to attend a bail hearing at local police stations or correctional centres. 
• There will be mandatory pre-=trial conferences to reduce the number of cases going to trial and to ensure there’s an accurate estimate on the length of time it will take for those cases that do go to trial. 

Ontario

• Ontario reported 181 new daily cases, the lowest number since late March. There were 8 new deaths.  83% of people with COVID-19 in Ontario have recovered. 
• There are 438 people in hospital with 103 in intensive care and 77 on ventilators. 
• Residents can now form “social circles” of up to 10 people with whom they do not have to practise physical distancing. All members of the group have to agree to be in the social circle.
• Social gatherings have also increased in permitted size to 10 people, but these must take place with physical distancing. 
• Businesses such as hair salons, restaurants and bar patios, and shopping malls were allowed to reopen on Friday as part of Ontario’s Stage 2 economic plan. 
• The Greater Toronto Area, as well as the border regions of Windsor and Niagara were excluded from the Stage 2 reopening. 
• The Ontario government announced that Durham, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton, Lambton, Niagara and York will be permitted to enter Phase 2 on Friday, but not Toronto, Peel Region or Windsor because of a higher number of COVID-19 cases.
• Every Monday the province will announce which regions are able to move to Stage 2 by the end of that week. 
• The province is proposing regulatory changes to collect data about race, income, language and household size from people who have tested positive for FCOVID-19 and volunteer that information to paint a “more complete picture of the outbreak.”
• First Nations groups plan to keep their restrictions in place, allowing only medical and essential workers in and out of their communities due to fear that they do not have sufficient resources and infrastructure to effectively and safely treat a COVID-19 outbreak. 

Quebec

• Quebec is reporting a 7^th straight day of fewer than 200 new cases, including 102 today, as well as another 11 deaths, for a confirmed total of 54,054. 
• 771 are hospitalized with 82 in intensive care. 
• Quebec begins training on Monday for the 10,000 people it hopes to have working as orderlies in the province’s long-term care homes by Sept. 15. The province is paying successful candidates $760 per week while they take 12 weeks of training. If they successfully complete the program, the full-time orderly jobs will pay $26 an hour, up to $49,000 a year.
• Restaurants in most of Quebec can open on Monday, except in the greater Montreal area as well as Joliette and L’Ephiphanie which will be allowed to open one week later on June 22. There will need to be physical distancing between diners, frequent disinfection and safety measures for staff. 
• Indoor gatherings of up to 10 people from 3 families will be permitted with physical distancing between family units. That was allowed on Monday in all areas except Montreal where that will be permitted beginning June 22.
• Beginning June 22 the province will allow indoor public gatherings of up to 50 people. 
• Distancing requirements for children 16 and under will be reduced to one metre, due to the low number of infections since schools opened in May. The two –metre rule will still apply to teachers and other adults. Distancing requirements may be removed entirely for younger children. 
• In places like movie theatres, where people don’t circulate or speak to each other, physical distancing will be reduced to 1.5 metres. 
• The province and federal government announced $50 million in new aid for small and medium-sized businesses. 

Alberta

JUNE 9-15, 2020, 5:15 p.m.

–ALBERTA NEWS –

There have been a number of announcements over the last several days. Some are here, others will be in upcoming updates. 

Health Minister Tyler Shandro

State of Public Emergency Expires Today, June 15

The State of Public Emergency ends today in Alberta. Albertans rose to the challenge, flattened the curve and reduced the numbers of cases and due to the remarkable success of our province, we have been able to enter Stage 2. 

            The State of Emergency was put in place in case the government had to take extraordinary measures to protect Albertans during the pandemic. This ensure that the government could respond to the epidemic by providing additional authority to support long-term care facilities and for health inspectors to enter any area such as airports to ensure safety of Albertans. 

Due to Albertans’ great response to the pandemic, these measures were not required and it is no longer necessary to keep the state of emergency in place, and it will be allowed to lapse today,. 

This does not affect the current public health orders and requirements, which remain in place for the next 60 days unless ended sooner. Nor does it affect the ability of Dr. HInshaw or the Alberta Government to respond as needed to additional cases and other requirements in the pandemic. 

Relaxing the 30-day limit for prescription drugs

• As of June 15, pharmacists can begin to give out larger quantities of prescription drugs again, up to a 100-day supply.
• Pharmacists should use their professional judgment and dispense a 30-day supply when necessary for specific drugs that still have shortages or supply chain issues.
• Government, industry, pharmacy organizations, and other health sector partners continue to monitor supply levels. If there is evidence that there is not enough supply, or that drugs are being stockpiled, government could re-introduce dispensing limits.

Free non-medical masks

Albertans can get four free non-medical masks per person at any Alberta A&W, McDonald’s Canada and Tim Hortons drive-thru while supplies last, no purchase necessary. 

So far, 9 million masks have been distributed. Another 3.2 million masks have been distributed to 44 municipalities, 46 First Nations, 7 Metis settlements, 1,106 seniors organizations, 107 shelters and 75 addiction treatment facilities. Masks continue to be available. Alberta continues to be the only province distributing masks free-of-charge to residents. 

Masks are at drive-thrus only. Those who can’t get to a drive-thru can check out other options here.

Education Minister Adriana LaGrange

Getting ready for 2020-21 school year

• A comprehensive re-entry plan for the 2020-21 school year allows schools and parents to prepare for learning while putting students and staff safety first.
• The plan offers guidance on a wide range of operational issues including hygiene and health requirements, student learning, transportation and diploma exams. It also addresses mental health and psychological supports for students and staff.
• School authorities will plan for all three scenarios for September: 
  1. In-school classes resume (near normal operations with health measures) – preferred option
  2. In-school classes partially resume with additional health measures
  3. At home learning continues (in-school classes are cancelled)
• The preferred and likely scenario is that students will return to daily in-school classes at the beginning of the year. The government will share its final decision on Aug 1 on which scenario will be in place at the beginning of the school year. However, school authorities area sked to prepare for implementing any of the three possibilities during the upcoming school year, including on short notice. 
• For more information, read the news release.

Increased access to child care

• Child care is critical to Alberta’s economic recovery as more parents and families start returning to work.
• Under stage two of relaunch, the maximum cohort group size will be increased from 10 to 30, including staff and children.
• Health screening, cleaning, disinfecting and safe on-site practices will remain in place.

Updated guidance for safely reopening and operating child care programs is available at alberta.ca/bizconnect.

Alberta Energy Regulator

            Some misinformation has been circulating about environmental monitoring. 

            The Alberta Energy Regulator has relaxed requirements for REPORTING monitoring results. The requirements for MONITORING have NOT been relaxed and remain in place.  

            It is also important to note that the Alberta Energy Regulator is an independent body and is not controlled by the Alberta Government. 

Minister of Environment & Parks, Jason Nixon

Streamlining Emissions Reduction Supports

As part of the government’s ongoing work to reduce red tape, new legislation would move Alberta from two provincially funded emissions reduction agencies to one. 

If Bill 22 is passed, most remaining programs and services that have been led by Energy Efficiency Alberta (EEA) will transition to Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) – an organization that has been helping industries and businesses save money and reduce emissions for more than 10 years.

This move will focus the province’s funding on one agency, and make it clearer for applicants and their service providers to access emissions-reduction programs. In addition, a portion of EEA’s funding was derived from the now-repealed consumer carbon tax, which government eliminated in 2019 as part of a platform commitment to Albertans.

Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction Grant Hunter

Cutting Red Tape to Stimulate the Economy

Bill 22, the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020, clears the way for businesses to operate more efficiently and freely as we prepare for the reopening of the economy.

The bill proposes 14 legislative changes across six different ministries. Several of these changes work to promote job creation and support economic growth by removing unnecessary burdens imposed on Albertans and businesses. The remaining changes focus on expediting government approvals, enhancing government transparency, eliminating outdated requirements, and reducing the administrative burden on municipalities.

“Especially now, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to think about ways to make government work better for Albertans. Bill 22 addresses a number of red tape issues, frees up our economy, and will help get Albertans back to work.”

Grant Hunter, Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction

Highlights of the bill include:

• Making it easier and more affordable for non-profits to operate in Alberta.
• Improving the efficiency of changes to surface rights agreements.
• Reducing trade barriers for grazing leases.
• Eliminating unnecessary delays in the oil sands approval process.
• Providing more effective and timely online access to statistical government information and reports.

For more information, Bill 22: Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020

Road Tests

• Applications for road tests are being accepted for Classes 1 – 4 and Class 5 Advanced for healthcare workers. Albertans can download the application online at Alberta.cahttps://www.alberta.ca/road-testing-for-class-1-to-4-drivers-during-covid-19.aspx and submit it via email to Alberta Transportation.
• June 15 – 18, Class 1 to 3 commercial drivers who had their road tests cancelled because of COVID will be contacted to rebook their road tests.
• The online booking system will then be shut down from June 19 – 22 while the system undergoes an update.
• The following week, June 23 – 26, those who had their road tests cancelled due to COVID-19 in all remaining license classes (4 – 6) will be invited to re-book their tests. Albertans who had their road test cancelled will be given the first opportunity to reschedule their tests.
• By the end of the month, road tests will be fully launched in Alberta for everyone in all license classes. 

If anyone requires an emergency road test (i.e. they have a job that requires a new or upgraded driver’s license) they are encouraged to contact the Alberta Transportation office or Alberta Transportation directly and we will work to find them a test. 

–OTHER ALBERTA NEWS—

Minister of Transportation, Ric  McIver

Assessing Rail Service between Calgary and Banff

            The Alberta government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to assess the feasibility of a new passenger rail service between Calgary and Banff.

The service would run between Calgary International Airport and Banff, with potential stops in between.  The cost of the feasibility study will be paid for by the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides

Transforming Alberta’s Post-Secondary System

Advanced Education will engage stakeholders to co-create an innovative new strategy for Alberta’s universities, colleges, polytechnics and other adult learning providers.

Through the Alberta 2030: Transforming Post-Secondary Education initiative, government will work with a leading research and consulting firm to search for practical solutions that will ensure the adult learning system is affordable, accessible and reflective of our economy’s future needs

Alberta’s economy is facing many challenges, and post-secondary institutions must be adaptable and forward-thinking. The Alberta 2030 initiative will renew the adult learning system’s focus on providing the education, skills and training the province needs to meet labour market demands and help Albertans get back to work.

Government will collaborate with employers, industry, students, post-secondary institutions and other stakeholders to:

• Ensure students have the skills and education to solve emerging problems and adapt to changing demands and opportunities.
• Increase access to post-secondary education and encourage a wider range of potential learners to participate.
• Increase the level of collaboration between institutions so that students have more options to transfer credit.
• Forge stronger relationships between employers and post-secondary institutions to help guide educational programming and work placement opportunities.
• Improve governance and financial sustainability for the system, and empower institutions to become more entrepreneurial and seek new sources of revenue.For more information, Alberta 2030: Transforming Post-Secondary Education opportunity notice Minister of Children’s Services, Rebecca SchulzNew Training for Early Childhood EducatorsThe Alberta government is providing funding to train individuals who work with children to help prevent and address abusive and harmful situations.The Respect in School training program is being expanded to day care and day camp workers. The training offered through Respect Group has been provided to school leaders – including teachers, educational assistants, custodians and bus drivers – across Alberta and is designed to give individuals who work with children the tools to identify and address bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.            While children currently remain unable to attend school due to the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying domestic abuse may be more challenging to determine. By taking this training, professionals who work with children will gain skills to better understand, prevent and respond to incidents, as well as to proactively build safe and nurturing environments for children to thrive, both at home and in the community. While early childhood educators do take some courses in this area – such as trauma-informed care and non-violent crisis intervention training – this course offers an opportunity to refresh and tailor their skills to the challenges they may encounter today.Quick facts

There are more than 18,000 certified staff working in Alberta’s licensed child care programs.

Child care staff are encouraged but not obligated to take the training, which will be funded by government.

More than 5,000 school leaders have already taken the program and tens of thousands more are eligible.

There are about 20,000 day care staff and 5,000 day camp workers eligible to take this training. For more information: Respect in SchoolWatch the Respect in School video –Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw– Update on OutbreaksAlberta Hospital, Edmonton, now has 7 cases, all in staff.  Ongoing MonitoringIf a local municipal district has 50 active cases per 100,000 population with at least 10 active cases, it is put in the “watch” category which means public health with work with local officials to see if additional measures need to be put in place.             Edmonton now has 161 cases, while Calgary has 194. Increased cases in Edmonton are likely due to people feeling that with our case numbers coming down that they can socialize more. 2/3 of these cases seen are in conjunction with several social gatherings.  60% of cases recently are under 40, and there is an increasing incidence in those between 20-29.  TestingAlberta has now done over 300,000 tests.  Since June 7, asymptomatic tests on those with no known contact with anyone positive have totaled 11,341 tests, and only 4 have tested positive  

Case Updates: New cases over the last few days:                                                

	New	Hospitalized	ICU	Deaths
Wed. June 10	47	42	6	0
Thurs. June 11	40	45	6	0
Fri., June 12	30	53	6	0
Wed. June 10	37	44	6	1, 1 man Extendicare, Calgary
Sunday – no numbers
Monday, June 15	20	31	7	1

Latest updates 

• 20 new cases have been reported, bringing the number of active cases to 440.  6,862 people have recovered.
• Cases have been identified in all zones across the province: 
  • 214 active cases and 4,772 recovered cases in the Calgary zone
  • 24 active cases and 1,243 recovered cases in the South zone
  • 175 active cases and 526 recovered cases in the Edmonton zone
  • 24 active cases and 225 recovered cases in the North zone
  • 2 active cases and 85 recovered cases in the Central zone
  • 1 active cases and 11 recovered cases in zones yet to be confirmed
  • Additional information, including the total number of cases, is reported online.
• There have been 620 cases to date with an unknown exposure.
• The total deaths are 151: 111 in the Calgary zone; 16 in the North zone; 13 in the Edmonton zone; 10 in the South zone; and one in the Central zone.  
• There are 29 active cases and 702 recovered cases at continuing care facilities. 116 residents at these facilities have died.
• So far, 343,311 Albertans have been tested and labs have performed 306,887 tests, with 3,462 tests completed in the last 24 hours.
• Any individual exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat or shortness of breath, is eligible for testing. People can access testing by completing the COVID-19 self-assessment online. A separate self-assessment tool is available for health-care and shelter workers, enforcement and first responders. 
• Aggregate data, showing cases by age range and zone, as well as by local geographic areas, is available online at alberta.ca/covid19statistics.

 (Central zone and areas around Calgary includes:

• Ponoka County – 2 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 2 recovered
• City of Camrose – 2 cases, 0 active, 1 death, 1 recovered
• County of Camrose – 1 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 1 recovered
• Red Deer – 37 cases; 1 active, 0 deaths, 36 recovered
• City of Lacombe – 2 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 2 recovered
• County of Lacombe – 3 cases; 0 active, 0 deaths; 3 recovered
• County of Stettler – 2 cases, 0 active, 0 death; 2 recovered
• Red Deer County – 14 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 14 recovered
• Clearwater County – 1 cases; 0 active, 0 deaths; 1 recovered
• Mountain View County – 9 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 9 recovered
• Kneehill County – 4 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths; 4 recovered
• MD of Bighorn – 18 cases; 0 active, 0 deaths; 18 recovered
• MD of Rockyview – 37 cases; 4 active, 0 deaths; 33 recovered
• Wheatland County – 10 cases; 1 active, 0 deaths; 9 recovered
• ID No. 9 (Banff & Canmore) – 4 cases; 1 active, 0 deaths; 3 recovered
• Foothills County – 726 cases, 22 active, 8 deaths; 696recovered
• City of Airdrie – 50 cases, 1 active, 1 deaths, 48 recovered
• City of Calgary – 4186 cases;   194 active, 102 deaths  3890 recovered
• City of Brooks – 1118 cases, 2 active, 9 deaths, 1107 recovered
• County of Newell – 20 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths; 20 recovered
• Special Areas No. 2 – 2 cases; 0 active, 1 death; 1 recovered 

I am including smaller towns within counties, where I can get the information.  The total of each smaller town is also included in the country total. If there is a town I have not included that you would like to see, please let me know and I will see if I can get that info. Sometimes more than 1 town is lumped in together or not separated from the county figures – for example, Penhold, Blackfalds and the area around Red Deer is included in Red Deer County figures. 

• Black Diamond – 29 cases, 3 active, 0 deaths, 26 recovered
• Canmore – 22 cases, 2 active, 0 deaths, 20 recovered
• Cochrane-Springbank – 17 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 17 recovered
• Crossfield – 6 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 6 recovered
• Chestermere – 33 cases, 3 active, 0 deaths, 30 recovered
• Didsbury/Carstairs – 5 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 5 recovered
• Drumheller – 2 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 2 recovered 
• High River – 533 cases, 2 active, 7 deaths, 524 recovered
• Innisfail/Bowden – 1 case, 0 active, 0 deaths, 1 recovered
• Okotoks – Priddis – 173 cases, 2 active, 1 deaths, 170 recovered
• Olds – 4 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 4 recovered
• Rocky Mountain House – 1 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 1 recovered
• Strathmore – 28 cases, 6 active, 0 deaths, 22 recovered
• Sundre – 2 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 2 recovered
• Sylvan Lake – 2 cases, 0 active; 0 deaths; 2 recovered
• Three Hills / Highway 21 – 4 cases, 0 active, 0 deaths, 4 recovered

OUTBREAK SITES 

• Outbreak = 2 or more cases which indicates community spread in the facility. Congregate sites are required to report even 1 possible case. Outbreak is declared over when 4 weeks have passed with no new cases. 
• Long-term care and supported living facilities with COVID-19 cases:   I have included the information from the Alberta government website plus information from other sources. 
• If a site is no longer on the list it is because there have been no new cases for four  weeks.
• There are 29 active cases and 690 recovered cases at continuing care facilities. 116 residents at these facilities have died.
• Academy of Aging, Calgary
• AgeCare Sunrise Gardens, Brooks
• Carewest Colonel Belcher, Calgary
• Carewest Sarcee, Calgary. 
• High River Long Term Care (in High River Hospital), High River
• Hillcrest Extendicare, Calgary, 20 deaths
• Intercare Brentwood, Calgary,. 
• Intercare  Chinook Care Centre, Calgary
• Kensington Village – Shepherd’s Care, Edmonton
• McKenzie Towne Long Term Care, Calgary, 
• Wentworth Manor, The Residence, Calgary

Other outbreak sites:

• Alberta Hospital, Edmonton
• APC Nutrition Ltd., Calgary
• Calgary Alpha House 
• Calgary Drop-in Rehab Centre Society, Calgary – 10 cases, 2 recovered
• Calgary Refrigerated Warehouse, Calgary
• Canada Post, Calgary
• Cargill Meat Processing Plant, High River
• Cascade Recovery+, Calgary, 14 cases
• Claresholm General Hospital
• Co-op Macleod Trail, Calgary
• Co-op Midtown, Calgary
• Dynamic Furniture Corporation, Calgary
• ECCO Recycling and Energy Corporation, Calgary
• Fibrebuilt Manufacturing, Calgary
• Harmony Beef – Meat packing, Rocky View County 
• JBS Foods/Brooks  
• Lilydale/Sofina Foods, Edmonton
• Purolator, Calgary 
• Walmart Logistics Distribution Warehouse, Calgary
• West Coast Reduction Ltd, Calgary

Aggressive measures are being implemented in all outbreaks and they are affective.  AHS and Public Health has learned from the earlier outbreaks and is putting aggressive measures in place immediately an outbreak is identified. Exposures that happened before measures put in place can continue to happen for up to 2 weeks because of the long incubation period. 

ABTraceTogether app

• The ABTraceTogether app will enhance current manual contact tracing and capacity, and facilitate early detection to help reduce the spread of the virus and better protect Albertans. It means Albertans will be contacted more quickly if they are at risk.
• Use of the app is voluntary; users must opt in.
• The app does not track the user’s physical location and does not use GPS. Protecting privacy is paramount; all contact data is only on the user’s phone and is deleted after 21 days.  
• Secure contact tracing is a cornerstone of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy. More information on the app, including links to download it, can be found online.
• Since its launch, the app has attracted 206,603 registered users.