Nurses from Red Cross, Canadian Armed Forces, other provinces to leave Alberta Oct. 31
Posted Oct 27, 2021 3:05 pm.
Last Updated Oct 27, 2021 9:17 pm.
Supports that were sent from across Canada to help Alberta in the fight against the fourth wave of COVID-19 will be allowed to leave come the end of October.
Earlier this month, the province received much-needed help from the Red Cross, the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as support from Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Alberta government confirmed the information to CityNews in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
“Now that we’re past the peak of cases and hospital admissions are declining, we’ve informed the agencies and governments that their staff’s assignments in Alberta will be completed as of October 31,” read the statement.
CONFIRMED: Nurses from the Red Cross, Canadian Armed Forces, and other provinces like NFLD can leave October 31. In a statement to @citynewscalgary, AB Gov thanks the nurses for their service and says their assignment concludes at the end of the month. #yyc #yeg #abpoli #ableg pic.twitter.com/EuaYsZU78k
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) October 27, 2021
These supports sent to Alberta included eight to 10 Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to Edmonton area hospitals to help staff additional ICU beds.
The Canadian Red Cross provided 20 ICU trained staff to help the Red Deer Regional Hospital.
Newfoundland and Labrador also sent a medical team, which was expected to include about five or six ICU experienced staff, who were deployed to the Northern Lights Regional Health Center in Fort McMurray.
“We’re deeply grateful to the Red Cross, Canadian Armed Forces, other provincial governments, and the individual staff members who have helped treat patients in Alberta during the fourth wave.”
While these supports are being sent back, the government still realizes the strain the province’s health care system is under.
“Our hospitals and other services are still under significant strain. Our own staff and physicians continue to work hard to get us through this wave, as they’ve done throughout the pandemic, and we urge Albertans to support them by getting vaccinated and following public health rules.”
