Alberta variant cases now at 68; province says strict testing and tracking in place
by Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press
Posted Feb 4, 2021 5:33 pm MDT
Last Updated Feb 4, 2021 at 5:44 pm MDT
EDMONTON Alberta reported Thursday it has 68 variant cases of COVID-19, up 11 from the day before, seven of them with no known link to travel.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the chief medical officer of health, said two of the new cases have potentially exposed two Calgary zone schools.
Earlier possible exposures were reported in two other Calgary schools, but Hinshaw said so far there has been no spread detected in any of those classes despite enhanced testing.
Dean Bennett
Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw updates media on the Covid-19 situation in Edmonton on Friday, March 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson February 04, 2021 - 4:33 PM
EDMONTON - Alberta reported Thursday it has 68 variant cases of COVID-19, up 11 from the day before, seven of them with no known link to travel.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the chief medical officer of health, said two of the new cases have potentially exposed two Calgary zone schools.
Earlier possible exposures were reported in two other Calgary schools, but Hinshaw said so far there has been no spread detected in any of those classes despite enhanced testing.
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JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
Alberta is increasing the mandatory quarantine period for people who live with someone who has tested positive for a COVID-19 variant to 24 days from the current 14.
The new quarantine rules will be the strictest in Canada, where the number of variant cases identified has been growing, including more than 50 in Alberta.
“We are being extra cautious to reduce the chance of infection spreading widely into the community,” Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw said on Tuesday.
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