Dr. Deena Hinshaw (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Chris Brown

Regulation Changes

Alberta updating guidelines for continuing care facilities, casinos

Sep 3, 2020 | 5:17 PM

As daily new cases of COVID-19 in Alberta continue to be in the triple digits, Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced changes to the public health guidance on casinos and continuing care facilities.

Hinshaw says table games are now permitted at casinos and racing entertainment centres, “provided physical distancing measures, barriers and other health measures are in place, as outlined in the guidance online.”

An updated framework on continuing care facilities will come into effect in two weeks. A new health order was signed on Thursday.

Hinshaw reiterated that residents in continuing care facilities are most at risk of severe outcomes, and that while the strict restrictions placed on such facilities in the spring helped limit the spread, they also took a different toll on other aspects of residents’ health.

She said a balance must be found between protecting people and supporting the overall health and wellbeing of those same people.

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“These residents need joy, hope and connection, just like the rest of us,” the chief medical officer of health said.

Hinshaw said outbreaks in the facilities have been limited and she has heard from residents, operators and families seeking greater adaptability when risks are low.

“Operators can now shift to a risk-based approach when residents return after being away from the site,” says Hinshaw. The previous approached used the measure of time the resident was off-site to determine the necessary quarantine time. A 14-day quarantine was required for any overnight off-site team.

The requirements on quarantine are being “adjusted to apply to high-risk outings, independent of the length of time the resident is away. Medium- and low-risk outings will have less stringent precautions applied, such as continuous masking or residents once they have returned, or enhanced symptom monitoring.”

Hinshaw added facilities can now choose to allow volunteers back on-site to alleviate staffing challenges with some of the requirements.

“We are increasing flexibility when risk is low, but not decreasing the overall protections in place,” she said.

Measures such as staff and visitor symptom and known-exposure screening and restrictions on staff working at more than one facility remain in place.

As students return to school this week, Hinshaw said parents are putting their trust in school and health authorities, other parents and their children that they are taking appropriate precautions for the safety of everyone.

“We also must trust ourselves as parents that we have made the right choices for our own situations, and that we continue to make the right choices to protect their school, and our community,” she said.

She also highlighted the importance of parents keeping children home and staying home themselves if sick.

“I know that this will be difficult for many parents and that for some, staying home may create difficult financial, personal and other stresses. I also know we are all longing to get back how things used to be. But COVID-19 is not going anywhere,” Hinshaw said.

“We all have no choice but to work together and support each other in the days ahead.”

(CHAT News Today)