What is COVID-19
COVID-19 Information for Albertans (Government of Alberta)
You can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta. Please select the following translated document (in English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese) to read about what you can do, help yourself, your loved ones, and others.
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declares the outbreak of COVID-19 a public health event of international concern. COVID-19, is an acute respiratory, pneumonia, disease caused by a new ‘novel coronavirus’. The World Health Organization was alerted to several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, in December of 2019.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are:
-
Fever
-
Cough
-
Shortness of Breath
-
Muscle Pain
-
Sputum Production
-
Sore Throat
In most cases, those with COVID-19 realize mild symptoms which can be managed with self-quarantine and home care. Progressive COVID-19 symptoms include pneumonia and advanced organ failure which must be treated in a health care facility or hospital.
If you feel that you (or the ones you care about) have these symptoms, these are the things you must do:
-
Practice Social Distancing – keep your distance from others and avoid group contact, watch the video below.
-
Complete a Self-Assessment – Alberta Health Services (AHS) has provided an online self-assessment tool
-
Call 8-1-1 – phone Alberta Health Link and speak to a health care supporter for guidance
-
Self-Quarantine Immediately – get indoors immediately and stay there
Inform Family and Friends – rely on others to help you with getting food, medicine, and other essentials.
Social Distancing
To protect yourself and those you care about, please:
-
Personal Hygiene – wash your hands with warm water & soap every 20-30 minutes
-
Avoid Touching Your Face with your hands - mouth, nose & ears are mucosal surfaces where respiratory viruses can attach very efficiently and become a site of entry into the body.
-
Minimum 2 meters or 6 feet (3-steps) away from other people - this is important when you’re standing in a line-up, travelling on a bus, meeting people, etc.
-
Change Your Ways to Greet - no hugs, no kisses, no handshakes, no fist-pumps. But you can bow to, wave to each other, or put your hands together.
-
Avoid small, medium and large group gatherings - an intentional overreaction will work.
-
Do not hold meetings in groups.
-
Do not eat around a public dining table.
-
Do not go to bars, sporting activities and events, arts and theatre places, your workplace, church, or other social gatherings that are not essential
-
-
Avoid unnecessary visits to the grocery stores, physician appointments - try to support businesses that offer take-outs, front-door, or curb-side pick-up.
Politely ask others to keep their distance. It is important to protect your space. Tell people around you to keep 2 meters, 6 feet, or 3 steps away from you.
Self Assessment
Alberta Health Services provides Albertans to access to an online self-assessment tool. The symptoms of COVID-19 can be confused with the common cold, seasonal flu, and other ailments. To understand your symptoms, please take the time to complete the self-assessment tool for yourself and your loved ones. Click on the link here.