Premier Jason Kenney begins the daily #COVID19AB briefing.

- 306 new cases, 3,401
- 5 new deaths for a total of 66
- 1,310 people recovered
- 70 currently in hospital; 18 in intensive care

#ableg
Kenney says tomorrow he will be meeting with the province's Relaunch Strategy working group. He says he knows people are getting impatient to reopen economy, but that makes no sense right now + would be counterproductive in long term.

108,521 tests done total. #ableg #COVID19AB
Premier talking now about "selfless acts of human kindness" during pandemic: volunteers with Meals on Wheels to get food to vulnerable seniors, a Sikh temple in Calgary giving food to truckers, etc.

Says everyone should look for opportunities to help others.

#COVID19AB #ableg
Government is launching the "Alberta Cares Connector," a new website created with the Volunteer Centre of Calgary, Kenney says. Will be more on this later in the news conference, but it'll help connect people wanting to volunteer with organizations. #ableg #COVID19AB
Govt also launching the "Northern Lights Award" to recognize people in Alberta communities helping others during the #COVID19AB pandemic.

First recipient is Owen Plumb, a grade nine student in Okotoks who is printing 3-D protective face shields for frontline workers. #ableg
Kenney talking now about Quebec, which has been hit particularly hard by #COVID19AB. He says Alberta's stockpile of medical equipment, incl ventilators, remains high for our anticipated needs.

We have about 600, and only around 100 are being used each day. #ableg
Kenney says we "cannot stand by indifferently" while #COVID threatens the lives of fellow Canadians.

He says AB has sent 25 ventilators to Quebec. Officials there will distribute them as needed, and the ventilators will be returned to us once demand drops. #ableg #COVID19AB
Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women Minister Leela Aheer speaking now. #COVID19AB #ableg
Aheer says AB's non-profit orgs and volunteers are having to cope with the economic impact of the #COVID19AB pandemic themselves while also trying to help others.

Announces the new website -- http://www.albertacaresconnector.ca . Orgs can post opportunities for those looking to help. #ableg
Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw speaking now.

She begins by saying the province has identified its first #COVID19AB case in a First Nation: Sucker Creek. Says there is no outbreak, and only one case so far. #ableg
Hinshaw says Sucker Creek has shown extraordinary resilience, especially because they are dealing with a flood right now. #ableg #COVID19AB
Hinshaw says 32 confirmed cases are linked to Kearl Lake: 25 in AB (10 isolated at the camp, and 15 offsite). 5 cases in BC, one in Sask, and 1 in Nova Scotia.

375 cases and 44 deaths, total, in continuing care facilities. #COVID19AB #ableg
Dr. Hinshaw talking a bit more about volunteering now. She asks that any Albertans not at high risk of severe #COVID19AB outcomes, and able to volunteer, consider doing so in a safe way. #ableg
She stresses testing is available to anyone with symptoms in the province + AB has capacity for it. We still have one of the highest testing rates in the world.

If you're feeling hesitant, just do it, she says, adding additional info helps AB's response. #ableg #COVID19AB
Q for Dr. Hinshaw: Numbers of cases at JBS and Cargill?

A: JBS: 96 confirmed cases in workers.

Cargill has 440 cases in workers from that plant, but the larger outbreak involving households/community spread is up to 580 cases. #ableg #COVID19AB
In response to another question, Kenney says in the days to come, the province will be releasing key metrics that will guide Alberta's economic relaunch strategy.

Says as with everywhere else, the relaunch has to be a phased approach and done in a careful way. #COVID19AB #ableg
Kenney says if AB continues to see numbers of deaths, hospitalizations, and ICU # s that are below our modelling predictions, hopefully that might mean an earlier relaunch.

But he says localized outbreaks are concerning, and relaunch can only be when safe. #ableg #COVID19AB
In response to a question about AIMCo, Kenney starts by saying it is an independent Crown corp and has a "very good track record" of maximizing returns.

He says it, like many other investment funds, has seen significant losses during the pandemic. #ableg
Re: any plan to pull AB out of CPP, Kenney says the govt is waiting to receive a report from the Fair Deal Panel.

He says it is reasonable for Albertans to ask whether the province could better operate its own pension plan. Says that issue will be tackled after pandemic. #ableg
Q for Hinshaw: How do you balance mental-health needs (ex. was provincial parks) with public-health orders?

A: By end of week, officials will have additional guidance about how to enjoy the outdoors safely. There were concerns about activity at prov. parks. #ableg #COVID19AB
Q: Has OHS opened an investigation into death of a Cargill worker?

Deputy minister of labour: OHS is investigating both Cargill and JBS, including any potential non-compliance that might have affected safety of workers. #ableg #COVID19AB
Hinshaw confirms there was a death of a worker from JBS, but it's not known if it was #COVID19AB and officials are investigating. #ableg
Talking about Sucker Creek, Dr. Hinshaw says the case was quickly identified and the situation is contained. Reiterates that the First Nation is also dealing with a flood right now. #ableg #COVID19AB
Re: a question about AIMCo. acting as investment agency for teachers' pensions, Kenney says that move will save teachers $20M/year in premiums as well as save taxpayers money, and will lead to better returns. #ableg
Kenney says AIMCo's recent losses are a "fraction" of what the financial markets have seen over the past several weeks. #ableg
Q: Why not close JBS, given Cargill?

Hinshaw: At Cargill, officials focused on the plant, but didn't necessarily implement supports/protocols to stop transmission in other areas of workers' lives. Officials taking community approach now. Not just about 1 work site. #COVID19AB
Daily #COVID19AB briefing is over. #ableg
You can follow @jennierussell_.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: