The government of Alberta is calling on all large public gatherings and international events to be cancelled due to concerns regarding the coronavirus.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced new measures for the province on Thursday.
Events with more than 50 people that expects to have international participation or involve critical infrastructure staff, seniors and vulnerable persons are also being recommended to be cancelled.
“Events of less than 250 people but do not meet this criteria can proceed as long as risk mitigation is in place such as sanitizer stations, ensuring there is a mechanism for keeping anyone ill from attending, and distancing between attendees,” said Hinshaw.
The NAABA Showcase Banquet and the Northern Lights Health Foundation’s Spring Fling are just a couple of events already confirmed to be cancelled.
Grocery stores, shopping centres, places of worship, and airports do not fall under this measure.
Schools and daycares can also remain open, however, staff are being asked to avoid large gatherings moving forward.
Hinshaw is also recommending Albertans avoid traveling outside of the country, people who are coming back from a trip to self-isolate for 14-days, and anybody currently dealing with influenza like symptoms to stay at home for at least two weeks.
“These measures will have significant impacts on many people, this is a serious decision which we do not make lightly, this is an extraordinary situation which requires extraordinary measures.”
Meanwhile, there are four new confirmed cases of the coronavirus including a two-year-old child from the Calgary-area.
They tested positive after returning from a family trip to Florida. The child is expected to make a full recovery.
“I know that a child contracting COVID-19 may be upsetting for some people,” added Hinshaw. “I want to ensure all parents that cases of COVID-19 in children are typically mild, despite that, we need to take the same measures for children that we take for any other case.”
The other three cases include three adults from the Calgary zone. This brings the total amount of cases in Alberta to 23.
More information can be found on the GoA’s website.