There are still no confirmed or probable cases of Coronavirus or COVID 19 in Alberta.

However, as the global impacts of Coronavirus continue to be growing concern, hygiene and sanitary supplies are becoming scarce. Even in provinces like Alberta which haven't been directly affected, you'll be hard-pressed to find a face mask or hand sanitizer on any store shelves.

Gunjan Dave is the owner of Fireside Pharmacy and he says that his pharmacy along with others across the country is no longer receiving supplies since the shipping priority is for areas with confirmed cases. He says "Because there's high demand in specific infected areas we haven't been receiving facemasks or hand sanitizer. This supply issue is everywhere."

12 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Canada, however, none of those are in Alberta.

As of February 26, 2020, there have been seven confirmed cases in B.C. and five in Ontario.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw has provided an update on the situation, saying that while the risk of coronavirus in the province remains low, with no confirmed or probable cases, the testing protocol has also been expanded to include Hong Kong, Singapore, Iran, South Korea, Japan, and Italy in addition to China.

Dave says that while the situation around the globe is changing rapidly, it would be beneficial to Albertans to take proactive measures to boost their immune systems. He says that while facemasks and hand sanitizer aren't readily available, washing hands thoroughly and often as well as keeping your face protected from direct contact of germs is equally efficient.

Hinshaw also elaborates by saying that the following precautions should be taken:

  • staying home when sick
  • covering coughs and sneezes
  • staying 1m away from anyone coughing or sneezing
  • regularly washing hands
  • avoiding touching face with unwashed hands