Three new presumptive cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Alberta.
A release from the Province of Alberta states that there are now a total of seven presumptive cases confirmed in the province, with an additional one in Edmonton and two in Calgary being detected on March 9.
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“These cases were detected thanks to the aggressive public health measures and expanded testing that we have put in place,” said Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, in the release.
“By acting quickly to isolate close contacts of COVID-19 cases, we help prevent the virus’s spread and protect Albertans. While additional cases will likely be detected in the coming days, Albertans can trust that we are doing everything we can to protect their health.”
The news comes shortly after Canada marked its first death from coronavirus — a man in his 80s who had a number of pre-existing health conditions, according to BC Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry.
Two of the three new cases were close contacts with those who had already been infected, while the third is a woman in her fifties in the Calgary zone who had on board the MS Braemar cruise ship from February 11 to March 4.
The Edmonton case is a woman in her seventies who had been aboard the Grand Princess Cruise.
The other Calgary case is a man in his thirties who is a close contact with the Calgary Zone woman who had been announced with a case of the virus on March 8. He had been travelling to Ukraine, Netherlands, and Turkey before returning home on March 2.
The current risk of being exposed to the virus in Alberta remains low, though the province is encouraging residents to continue safe practices such as washing hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap.
Those who believe that they have been in contact with someone infected by the virus are asked to self-isolate for 14 days, as even those who are not displaying symptoms may be infected and contagious.
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