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1. What are the best websites to get the information I need?

Government of Alberta

COVID-19  Information for Albertan’s
Alberta Health Services’ latest health information and advice for Alberta.

The Public Health Agency of Canada

COVID-19 Outbreak Updates and more information. 

2. What is COVID-19?

An outbreak of respiratory illness, now known to be caused by a novel (new) coronavirus, was first identified in Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a public health emergency. The novel coronavirus disease has been given the name COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a serious health threat, and the situation is evolving daily. The risk varies between and within communities, but given the number of cases in Canada, the risk to Canadians is considered high.

3. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

You should get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.

If you have any of these CORE symptoms you are legally required to isolate for at least 10 days from the start of your symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer:

• Fever
• Cough (new cough or worsening chronic cough)
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (new or worsening)
• Runny nose
• Sore throat

If you have any of these other symptoms, stay home and minimize your contact with others until your symptoms resolve:

• Chills
• Painful swallowing
• Stuffy nose
• Headache
• Muscle or joint aches
• Feeling unwell, fatigue or severe exhaustion
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or unexplained loss of appetite)
• Loss of sense of smell or taste
• Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye

Monitor your health and call Health Link 811 if you have questions or concerns. Call 911 immediately if experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19, including difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, feelings of confusion or loss of consciousness.

4. I think I have COVID-19 symptoms. What should I do?

You should get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.

Monitor your symptoms

• Adults over 18 should stay home and get tested if they have any COVID-19 symptom.
• Children under 18 should refer to the daily screening checklist for instructions.

Core symptoms

If you have any of these core symptoms, you need to isolate for at least 10 days from the start of your symptoms or until they are gone, whichever is longer, or until you test negative for COVID-19. Financial support may be available if you experience a loss of income.

Adults over 18

• cough
• fever
• shortness of breath
• runny nose
• sore throat

Children under 18

• cough
• fever
• shortness of breath
• loss of sense of taste or smell

Other symptoms

Adults over 18

Any symptom: Stay home and limit contact with others until symptoms are gone. Testing is recommended.

• Stuffy nose
• Painful swallowing
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle or joint aches
• Feeling unwell or fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or unexplained loss of appetite
• Loss of sense of smell or taste
• Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye

Children under 18

1 symptom: Stay home for 24 hours, get tested if symptoms don’t improve.
2+ symptoms: Get tested and stay home until well or the test is negative.

• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Painful swallowing
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle or joint aches
• Feeling unwell or fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or unexplained loss of appetite
• Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye

Monitor your health and call Health Link 811 or your health care provider if you have questions or concerns. Call 911 immediately if experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19, including difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, feelings of confusion, or loss of consciousness.

5. Who can be tested for COVID-19?

Priority testing is available to:

• any person exhibiting any symptom of COVID-19
• all close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases
• all workers and/or residents at specific outbreak sites

Monitor your symptoms

• Adults over 18 should stay home and get tested if they have any COVID-19 symptom.
• Children under 18 should refer to the daily screening checklist for instructions.

Core symptoms

If you have any of these core symptoms, you need to isolate for at least 10 days from the start of your symptoms or until they are gone, whichever is longer, or until you test negative for COVID-19. Financial support may be available if you experience a loss of income.

Adults over 18

• cough
• fever
• shortness of breath
• runny nose
• sore throat

Children under 18

• cough
• fever
• shortness of breath
• loss of sense of taste or smell

How to Get Tested

Book a Test

If you have symptoms or known exposure to COVID-19, you must stay home and book your test online with AHS assessment tool or call Health Link 811.

Take the COVID-19 assessment / Book a test

Access Your Results Online

Albertans 14 years old or older can access test results online through MyHealth Records, a secure Alberta government service that helps keep track of your health information.

6. How do I isolate?

Isolating and quarantining help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the number of people you could infect if you're sick. Both require staying home and avoiding situations where the virus could spread.

Albertans are legally required to:

• Isolate for 10 days if you tested positive or have any core symptoms that are not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition.
• Quarantine for 14 days* if you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and you are not fully vaccinated. (*Duration of quarantine may be reduced based on vaccination status.)
• If you have symptoms, take the online assessment to arrange testing.

Learn more about isolation requirements: https://www.alberta.ca/isolation.aspx

7. How do I prevent the spread of COVID-19?

We all have a responsibility to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta. Take steps to protect yourself and others.

Practice good hygiene

• Stay home if you are feeling sick
• Wash or sanitize your hands often
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Avoid touching your face

Gather Safely

• There are no longer restrictions on social gatherings. However, if you are gathering with people you don’t know or who are not vaccinated, you can practice these optional precautions to limit the risk of spreading COVID-19.
• Practice physical distancing of 2 metres.
• Wear a mask if it’s in an indoor space.
• Sanitize common touch surfaces

Monitor your symptoms

• COVID-19 symptoms are similar to influenza and other respiratory illnesses and can range from mild to severe. Even people with mild symptoms can spread COVID-19 to others.
• If you have any symptom, stay home and take the online assessment to arrange testing.
• Depending on your vaccination status, you may be legally required to isolate if you have symptoms or quarantine if you are a close contact of a confirmed case. Learn more about isolation and quarantine requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated Albertans.

Isolate or Quarantine if Required

Isolation and quarantine requirements are in place for individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or who have been exposed to a COVID-19 case. Modified requirements are in place for individuals who are partially or fully vaccinated.

Visit https://www.alberta.ca/prevent-the-spread.aspx for more information. 

8. What else can I do to prepare for COVID-19?

Create a Household Action Plan

Talk with the people who need to be included in your plan.

• Discuss with household members, other relatives, and friends what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community and what the needs of each person will be.
• Plan ways to care for those at greater risk of serious complications, such as ensuring you have sufficient medication, and determining what supplies are needed and if they can be delivered.
• Talk with your neighbours about emergency planning.
• Create a list of local organizations you can contact if you need access to information, health-care services, support or resources.
• Create an emergency contact list.

Prepare for Isolation

• Choose a room in your home you can use to separate sick household members from healthy ones.
• Choose a separate bathroom for sick individuals to use, if possible.
• Plan to clean these rooms as needed when someone is sick.
• Have 72 hours’ worth of food and supplies at home. We do not recommend stockpiling goods.

Financial support is available if you’re unable to work because you are sick, required to isolate, or are caring for someone in isolation.

Hotel rooms may be available if you can’t isolate safely in your own home.