Wood Buffalo is potentially dealing with its first COVID-19 case.
Maxx Dental Group sent out a note to their patients on Thursday stating one of their employees had tested positive for the virus. This after they attended the Pacific Dental Conference held in Vancouver from March 5 to 7.
People who attended this event are asked to self-isolate.
In a release, Mayor Don Scott says it was likely the virus would eventually make its way to the region.
“It is important that our residents remain calm and continue to take the necessary preventative measures. We all have a role to play and it is critical we listen to the public health recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Scott confirmed to Mix News that the municipality has yet to receive 100 per cent confirmation from Alberta Health Services. The province isn’t saying whether the case is confirmed or not.
“Our region has faced challenges and uncertainty before and I am confident in our ability to respond.”
In Maxx Dental’s note, they say their employee self-isolated immediately after starting experiencing symptoms. The rest of the staff are also planning on staying home for at least the next six days.
The company says they’ve also been in talks with AHS and are confident that patients from last week are safe.
“I know news about a case may be stressful for many community members but I want to assure everyone, that I remain very confident in our preparedness and response,” added Scott Davis, Director of Emergency Management for the RMWB. “We have been and continue to take aggressive measures to prevent the spread, flatten the curve and protect our community.”
There are currently 10 cases of the coronavirus in the north zone, which includes the RMWB. The province notes one case is in High Prairie, one in Cold Lake, but they haven’t confirmed the location of the other eight.
We will continue to update the story as more information becomes available.