Credit: Youtube Screenshot
Alberta has announced new outreach programs and supports specifically for communities with very high rates of COVID-19 infection and transmission. Alberta Health has identified 11 such communities in Edmonton and Calgary.
Premier Jason Kenney said, “We want to take a supportive and collaborative approach to helping those communities who are feeling the greatest impact. Through compassionate efforts we will reach across barriers and provide our neighbours with the information and supports they need to keep their families safe.”
Starting Dec. 15, a number of new programs and supports will be available to residents in these eleven communities.
Alberta will provide hotels for individuals in these areas who test positive for COVID-19. They will be eligible for a free-of-charge hotel room stay of 14 days, complete with culturally appropriate food.
They will also be eligible for temporary financial aid in the amount of $625 when they have completed their self-isolation.
Edmonton Neighbourhoods:
- Abbottsfield
- Castledowns
- Eastwood
- Jasper Place
- Millwoods West
- North East
- Northgate
- Woodcroft East
- Woodcroft West
Calgary Neighbourhoods
- Lower Northeast
- Upper Northeast
Alberta is establishing COVID Care Teams with municipal and local partners in Edmonton and Calgary to provide on-the-ground outreach. Care packages with masks, sanitizer, and information in multiple languages will be delivered in these areas. Safe transportation to COVID-19 assessment and testing facilities will also be available.
In addition, Alberta will be stepping up the public awareness campaign and will communicate important public health information directly to Albertans who may have English language barriers through expanded access to translated materials and other supports.
Messages will be delivered in 10 languages through radio, television and print advertising, as well as through various social media channels and web platforms.
Meanwhile, Alberta said its first COVID-19 vaccinations happened this afternoon.
A respiratory therapist in Edmonton and an intensive care nurse in Calgary were the first to get the shots.
The province is reporting 1,341 new cases of COVID-19.
It says 11 more people have died from the virus.
There are 742 people in hospital with the illness, and 137 of them are in intensive care.