Alberta reports 325 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday

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Alberta reported 325 new circumstances of COVID-19 Friday because the NDP Opposition referred to as on the provincial authorities to re-establish an unbiased seniors’ advocate with investigative powers.

With seniors in care making up nearly all of COVID-19 deaths, NDP seniors and housing critic Lori Sigurdson mentioned the pandemic has shone a light-weight on current and rising issues in seniors care, however there are few avenues for seniors to show to for assist or to push for reforms.

“Workers are working at a number of websites, which has unfold COVID-19 throughout completely different amenities. There have been quite a few experiences of residents not receiving assist for bathing, being left in their very own waste for prolonged intervals of time, and being socially remoted,” mentioned Sigurdson.

Linda Burns, whose mother-in-law is 96 and lived not too long ago in an unbiased residing facility with dementia, mentioned seniors need assistance navigating their issues with the care system.

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“Are you able to think about having your meals delivered to your room, shortly plopped down in your room to eat by your self? The utensils are wrapped in plastic that your arthritic palms can not open? You may’t take the lid off your espresso? And due to your dementia, you can not discover the phrases or type the sentences to ask for assist — how humiliating that should really feel?” mentioned Burns.

She added she doesn’t understand how a senior is anticipated to handle on this province with out an advocate to assist them navigate a sophisticated system.

Doug Martin, vice-president of the Calgary chapter of the Canadian Affiliation of Retired Individuals, mentioned the necessity for an advocate was extra essential than ever.

The UCP introduced it might roll the earlier Seniors’ Advocate position into that of the Well being Advocate in 2019.

Alberta’s Well being Advocate, Janice Harrington, has been silent because the pandemic continues to fail Alberta’s seniors, mentioned Sigurdson.

In an announcement, Natalie Tomczak, spokesperson for seniors and housing, mentioned in January 2020 the Workplace of the Seniors Advocate was mixed with the Workplace of the Well being Advocates to deal with seniors’ issues extra effectively.

“Alberta seniors, their households and repair suppliers are in a position to entry info and referrals on problems with concern at a centralized group,” Tomczak mentioned.

She added former NDP chief Brian Mason didn’t see worth in having the additional workplace. “Mr. Mason didn’t assume it was needed, but Ms. Sigurdson does.”

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Seniors searching for info, advocacy and referrals are in a position to name 780-422-1812 or go to albertahealthadvocates.ca.

Throughout the province, there are at present 4,840 lively circumstances of COVID-19. Almost 9,400 checks have been accomplished within the final 24 hours for a positivity charge of about 3.6 per cent.

The Edmonton zone, which incorporates town of Edmonton and surrounding municipalities, has 1,260 lively circumstances. The town of Edmonton has 1,022 lively COVID-19 circumstances, or 98.5 per 100,000 individuals.

There are 352 individuals are hospitalized and of these, 55 are in intensive care models. Seven extra deaths raised the provincial loss of life toll to 1,812.

The province recognized 14 extra circumstances of COVID-19 variants on Friday, bringing the entire to 253. Of these, 246 are of the B.1.1.7 variant first present in the UK and 7 are of the B.1.351 variant first present in South Africa.

As of Thursday, 160,423 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and 61,519 Albertans are absolutely immunized.

— With information from Lisa Johnson

ajunker@postmedia.com