10 – CrOwsnesT Pass HeraLD – Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Toy Hamper time COVID-19 update Women's Resource & Crisis Centre begins drive for toys
DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter
The annual Toy Hamper Drive is underway for the Women's Resource & Crisis Centre. Executive Director for the Centre, Margaret Byrne, says this year the Centre is looking for many different things. "The trees are going out in the stores like previous years and then there are tags on the trees but really, we're looking for anything this year. Everything from babies to teenagers, anything works. With everything that's gone on I'm expecting more applications than usual this year." Byrne says there are a couple of ways to donate. "People can always donate to the Women's Resource Centre directly or the trees are up at their usual locations like the banks, Red Apple, drug stores and post offices and people can donate at those locations." The Women's Resource & Crisis Centre will begin taking applications later this month. "Applications start on the 23rd of November and we'll be taking them until December 9th. They'll be ready for pickup on December 23rd. We'll call people if they are ready before then," said Byrne. Byrne wants people to know that anyone who needs to can apply. "We know this is a different year. If someone has donated in the past and this year find themselves on the other side don't be afraid to apply. We have so many people that will be in difficult situations this year. We don't want to deter anyone from applying but we also don't want to push anyone into donating." People are able to apply with any of the board or staff at the Women's Resource Centre in person. People applying are asked to have photo identification and proof of current address for the applicant and Alberta Health Care cards for each child that is being applied for. For more information or clarification, call the Women's Resource and Crisis Centre at 403-562-8000.
Keeping Warm - Martha Rokeby-Thomas
A common theme I discuss with the people I see is the importance of keeping warm. If the bugs are around and we get chilled our defences drop. We are forced to put our energy into warming up when it should be spent defending our exterior against invasion of illness. Think of it this way; we have something like a protective layer that surrounds us and keeps us from getting sick. Our ability to fend off illness depends on this layer of protection. When we are exposed to cold or wind this layer gets dissipated. Wind dissipates the protective layer of heat from around our body. A thermal camera can actually show that thin layer of warmth all around the body and how the wind can literally blow it away. We know of viruses and bacteria. We all work extremely hard at avoiding exposure by washing hands, avoiding people who are sick and keeping clean. This protective layer is another line of defence between exposure and infection. There are a couple of good ways to avoid getting a chill. Keep your feet, head and neck warm. It’s good to have an extra layer handy and wear a scarf if you can. Keep the chill out of the back of your neck and be mindful of wet hair. Its good to keep a wet head covered in the winter months or dry it right away. The old Wives tale about getting sick and catching pneumonia from going out in the cold and getting a chill is absolutely true. The bugs are around, we get chilled, and our defences drop. We are forced to put our energy into warming up when it should be spent defending our exterior. Keeping our defences up also depends a lot on how we feel on the inside. If we feel healthy, warm and nourished we are less likely to take in a bug that might be around. When we have a chill or are feeling grumpy or weak our defences are not as strong as they could be. Keeping warm, inside and out gives us another chance to defend against invasion. Martha Rokeby-Thomas graduated a 5 year full time medical program in traditional Chinese medicine. She has been living in the pass for 10 years and is currently practicing community acupuncture at her clinic in Blairmore.
ALL NUMBERS ARE UP TO DATE AS OF Sunday, November 15th. Province wide, there have been 40,189 cases to date. Of these cases, 10,031 are active. 427 people have died from the virus. The number of cases in the South Zone by area is as follows: South Zone total: To date, there have been 3,102 total cases in the south zone. 2,511 people have recovered from Covid-19 in the south zone. There are currently 556 active cases in the south zone. There are currently 13 outbreaks in the South Zone. These outbreaks locations include 8 in Lethbridge, 1 in Brooks, Medicine Hat, Bow Island, Redcliff and also 1 in Coaldale Here is the community breakdown of cases in the south zone. Crowsnest Pass: 4 cases reported, 1 case is active, 3 case recovered. Pincher Creek: 34 cases reported, 7 cases active, 25 cases recovered and 2 deaths. Fort Macleod: 43 cases reported, 8 case active, 32 cases recovered and 3 deaths. Claresholm: 47 cases reported, 5 cases active, 42 cases recovered. C a r d s t o n County/Kainai: 134 cases reported, 21 cases active, 108 cases recovered and 5 deaths. County of Warner: 84 cases reported, 10 cases active, 73 cases recovered and 1 death.
Lethbridge: 757 cases reported, 168 cases are active, 582 cases recovered and 7 deaths. Lethbridge County: 250 cases reported, 80 cases active, 169 cases recovered and 1 death. MD of Taber: 132 cases reported, 71 cases active, 61 cases recovered City of Brooks: 1,235 cases reported, 37 cases active, 1,187 recovered and 11 deaths. County of Newell: 86 cases reported, 30 cases active, 54 cases recovered and 2 deaths. County of Forty Mile: 85 cases reported, 31 cases active, 53 cases recovered and 1 death. Cypress County: 86 cases reported, 39 cases active, 47 cases recovered. Medicine Hat: 152 cases reported, 50 cases active, 100 cases recovered and 2 deaths. Oyen: 14 cases reported, 1 cases active and 13 case recovered. Vulcan: 64 cases reported, 9 active, 53 recovered and 2 deaths. Albertans with symptoms • You are legally required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days if you have a cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, or sore throat that is not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition. • The mandatory isolation period is 10 days from the start of symptoms, or until symptoms resolve, whichever takes longer. Tested positive for COVID-19 • You are legally required to isolate for a min-
imum of 10 days if you have tested positive for COVID-19. • Isolation period is for 10 days from the start of symptoms, or until symptoms resolve, whichever takes longer. Have symptoms but tested negative for COVID-19 • If you tested negative and have known exposure to COVID-19, you are legally required to isolate for 14 days. • If you tested negative and have no known exposure to the virus, you are not legally required to isolate. However, it is important to stay home until your symptoms resolve so that you do not infect others. Close contacts of confirmed cases • You are legally required to isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms if you are a close contact of a person who tested positive for COVID-19 (provides care, lives with or has close physical contact without appropriate use of personal protective equipment, or comes into direct contact with infectious body fluids) • If you become sick with cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat during this time, you must isolate for an additional 10 days from the beginning of symptoms or until you are feeling well, whichever takes longer. As of November 6, all residents and visitors of communities on the watch/enhanced measures list must follow the mandatory: • 15 person limit on social and family gatherings - indoors and out-
doors - where people are mixing and mingling. Applies to all social gatherings, including but not limited to: • banquets and award ceremonies • wedding or funeral receptions • luncheons or potlucks • parties: birthday, baby showers, retirement, dinners, backyard BBQs • other private social gatherings and functions Does not apply to structured events, including but not limited to: • seated-audience conferences, sports and shows • dining in restaurants • fitness centres • funeral services • wedding ceremonies • worship services Current gathering limits and prevention measures remain in place. Voluntary measures As of November 6, all residents and visitors of communities on the watch/enhanced measures list are recommended to: • Limit your cohorts to no more than 3: your core household, your school, and one other sport or social cohort. Young children who attend child care could be part of 4 cohorts, given that child care settings have not been a high risk for spread. • Wear a mask in all indoor work settings, except when alone in a workspace like an office or cubicle where you are safely distanced from others, or an appropriate barrier is in place.