Pandemic in review: A year ago numbers jumped in Alberta

By Gillian Slade on March 27, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDGslade@abnewsgroup.com

It was during these 10 days at the end of March last year that the number of COVID deaths jumped from one to eight in the province.
Daily briefings by Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, were becoming a daily routine.
March 22, 2020
Hinshaw announced there were 226 positive COVID cases, 11 were in hospital, six of them in ICU and there had been one death.
In the South zone there were seven confirmed cases.
March 23, 2020
There were an additional 42 cases confirmed in the province for a total of 301.
Three people had recovered.
Changes were made about who could be tested. People returning after travel no longer had to be tested.
“Travellers who returned to Alberta after March 12 and have mild symptoms will no longer be tested for COVID-19,” states a press release. “Instead, the same advice applied to all Albertans …… self-isolate at home and away from others.”
Testing was prioritized for those with symptoms who were in hospital with respiratory illness, residents of continuing care facilities and those who had returned from travel between March 8 and 12 before isolation protocols were in place.
Rest stops and washrooms on highways were closed and Albertans were encouraged to stay close to home.
Physicians were given new billing codes to offer “virtual” patient visits by telephone or video conference.
March 24, 2020
“Kenney slams hoarders, scammers” was the headline in Medicine Hat News.
“To those who are trying to exploit seniors and others during this time of a public health emergency, there must be a special place in hell for people like that. Just stop it,” said Premier Jason Kenney in The Canadian Press story published in the News.
Kenney was addressing the clearing out of some supermarket and drug store shelves. Some foods were hard to find, toilet paper and sanitizer to name a few.
Many supermarkets began offering early morning shopping exclusively for seniors.
WestJet announced it was reducing its service between the Hat and Calgary by 33 per cent.
March 25, 2020
Alberta announced a second COVID death – a woman in her 80’s living in a Calgary long-term-care facility.
There were 358 cases in the province.
Alberta Health said there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 but drugs were being tested.
A COVID-19 clinic was opened at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital for referred patients for assessment and treatment.
Countries such as Italy had started testing all residents in specific areas where the number of COVID cases was particularly high.
“Alberta is doing the most COVID-19 testing per capita in North America….There are assessment centres open throughout Alberta and AHS can open more if needed,” said Tom McMillan spokesperson for Alberta Health in an email.
McMillan said there would be challenges for Alberta to test everyone.
Amendments to the Procedures Regulation under the Provincial Offences Procedures Act was announced.
“Fines now administered through tickets for violating an order have increased from $100 per day to a prescribed fine of $1,000 per occurrence. Courts will also have increased powers to administer fines ofup to $100,000 for a first offence and up to $500,000 for a subsequent offence for more serious violations,” states a government press release.
March 26, 2020
Public Health Orders:
– 14-day self-isolation for returning international travellers or close contacts of people with COVID.- 10-day self-isolation for people with symptoms not related to a pre-existing illness.
There were 2,020 cases in Canada and 27 deaths.
Alberta had 419 cases and two deaths.
Lethbridge had three cases, Medicine Hat five and Taber two.
March 27, 2020
New restrictions on mass gatherings: limit of 15 people.
Restrictions were imposed on non-essential businesses including clothing, shoes, hobby, toys, sporting goods, jewelry and non-essential health and beauty care.
Alberta announced supports for renters with limits on eviction for non-payment of rent and a freeze on rent increases.
Another 56 COVID cases announced for a total of 542 in the province.
March 28, 2020
Alberta Health Services (AHS) postponed some diagnostic imaging procedures and physicians were asked to stop “all non-essential and routine laboratory testing.”
March 29, 2020
Third death announced and the province reached 661 cases, 41 hospitalizations with 14 in ICU. Recovered cases 73.
Three long-term care facilities in the province had outbreaks.
March 31, 2020
Hinshaw announced five deaths bringing the provincial total to eight.
Tougher restrictions for people self-isolating were imposed: no more walks in the neighbourhood or parks and people in apartments were told not to use elevators, stairwells or a communal laundry room.

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