Alberta's savvy in purchasing personal protection equipment will benefit other provinces struggling to keep up with demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In providing today's update, Premier Kenney said reaching out to help other provinces is the right thing to do.

Alberta is sending PPE supplies to Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, believing we have ample supplies to meet needs here.

“Albertans should be very proud that we are able to extend a helping hand to our Canadian brothers and sisters in this time of need," said Kenney. "It is because of Albertans’ efforts to isolate and the incredible job being done by frontline health-care workers that we are in a position to support others during this crisis. We want all of our country to know that in both good times and bad, Alberta is there for Canada.”

Ontario will receive:

  • 250,000 N95 masks
  • 5 million procedural masks
  • 15 million gloves
  • 87,000 goggles
  • 50 ventilators

Quebec will receive:

  • 250,000 N95 masks
  • 2 million procedural masks
  • 15 million gloves

British Columbia will receive:

  • 250,000 N95 masks

Alberta will begin shipping these items next week and is willing to provide more supplies to other provinces as the need arises and as supplies arrive in our province.

Recent COVID-19 modeling projections indicate the most probable scenario for Alberta is the virus will reach its peak mid-May. An estimated 820 people could require hospitalization during the peak period, with more than a quarter requiring critical care.

Based on that modeling, with current supply stockpiles and more shipments on the way, Alberta will retain enough of each of the PPE items to maintain an adequate supply of each. It is expected the ventilators will remain in Ontario until the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak has passed.

Alberta is currently in the process of doubling its ventilator supply by the end of April to ensure the health care system can support the provincial response.

Updated numbers

An additional 69 confirmed cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.

That means Alberta Health Services is aware of 1,569 cases from almost 73,000 completed tests.

Forty-eight per cent or 744 people have recovered so far.

Sadly, another death was recorded in Calgary, bringing the total number of deaths to 40.

There are 47 hospitalized, a reduction of one since yesterday, of which 13 are in intensive care.

Kenney says hospitalization has been relatively stable this week.

"Our numbers are far lower than the hardest-hit areas of  Europe and the United States, and significantly lower than we've seen in provinces like Quebec and Ontario."