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COVID-19 Information

Please note: All in-person intake, applications (including harvesting), and walk-ins at the provincial office (11738 Kingsway Ave. NW) are temporarily suspended until further notice. Applications can still be mailed in.

Please call 780-455-2200 or 1-800-252-7553 if you have any questions.

COVID-19 Update November 20, 2020

Public health officials continue to be concerned as the provincial positivity rate sits around 6.5% with more than 10,000 active cases. As cases continue to rise, there is a corresponding rise in the number of Albertans who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. ICU is very quickly reaching capacity both in terms of actual physical space and the number of frontline workers (doctors and nurses) who are off work because of COVID symptoms or exposures.

To ensure that the health system can respond, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has had to reduce the number of scheduled or elective surgeries that could require overnight stays in hospitals. Temporary ICU spaces are being made available however, you must remember that ICU requires specialized frontline staff to support ventilators and cardiac monitoring that is a reality of severe COVID-19 illness.

New COVID-19 Measures 

Staying apart is hard for a tightknit community like ours, but by maintaining our distance we are making our community stronger and stopping the spread of Covid-19. Let’s take care of each other by following the new temporary health safety measures.

Effective November 13, 2020 for a period of 14 days:

The following measures apply to Edmonton and surrounding areas, Calgary and surrounding areas, Grand Prairie, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray, Red Deer, and any of the cities that are on “enhanced watch measures.” The list of those cities can be found here.

  • Stop to urban indoor group fitness classes and sports
  • Stop to urban group performances such as choirs, dance, and theatre troupes.
  • Restaurants, bars, lounges, and pubs must stop liquor sales at 10:00PM and close by 11:00PM.
    • This new measure is because the high risk of transmission that occurs due to socialization, alcohol, and late nights.
  • 50-person limit on weddings and funeral receptions
  • Faith-based gatherings should be restricted to 1/3 of the capacity with all public health measures in place.

Recommended Measures:

  • All Albertans are asked to postpone any social gatherings within their homes. This includes all areas under the extended watch list.
  • Employers are recommended to reduce the number of staff in an office building if possible. 
    • The MNA closely monitors this aspect. At this time there are no changes for Provincial Head Office.

As always, if you are sick and experiencing symptoms of the flu or COVID-19, book a test online.

For the most up to date information related to Alberta’s current pandemic situation please visit: www.alberta.ca/covid19

CRA and COVID-19

Have you received financial support during COVID-19? We want to remind everyone to file your 2019 tax return if you haven’t yet done so. Filing your return ensures you receive the right benefit amounts and payments beyond September 2020.

If your tax return is not assessed by early September, your payments will stop in October 2020 and you may have to repay the amounts your received since July 2020.

Find a free tax clinic in your area. You will be able to enter your community information to see if there are services available in your area.

Follow the links below or on the side bar to find the information you’re looking for:

Find Michif Cree and Michif French Public Service announcements on COVID-19 on the Indigenous Services Canada web page and this Alberta Health Services page in Cree.

Read messages and statements on COVID-19 from our affiliates:

Masks

We have been getting several requests from citizens asking for masks and we understand why, things feel scary right now. Health experts ask that you stay at home. If you are home, you do not need a mask.

While there is changing evidence and support for self-made masks, Public Health Experts primarily recommend masks for those who are sick or immunocompromised who must leave their home and go to hospital for care. Wearing a mask when you are not ill may give a false sense of security. There is a potential risk of infection with improper mask use and disposal.

Stay home and stay safe!

Beware of scammers!

Beware of scammers! If an offer of cash or free devices comes up due to the current pandemic, it is probably too good to be true. This Global News article has more tips on avoiding scams.

Download or print these useful posters for your home or workplace:

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Alberta, visit:


www.alberta.ca/covid19