City of Calgary outlines plans to 'flatten the curve' of COVID-19

With three new cases of the novel coronavirus in Calgary being announced Wednesday, the city outlined its plans to attempt to "flatten the curve."

Tom Sampson, the head of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, said everyone in the city has a role to play to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Everyone can help, Sampson said, by washing hands, not shaking hands with others and by staying home if they feel ill.

"You know, we can give you a clean bus in the morning and we can give you a clean city hall to come into, but invariably, people will come into these public spaces," Sampson said. "So it's up to us to work hard to protect our own health."

Sampson saidCOVID-19 is 10 times more lethal than the flu andiseasily transmitted,butthere's plenty experts stilldon't know.

The city has already stepped up its efforts to sanitize public transit and recreation facilities, and signs have been posted at some city buildings that remind those entering that they should stay away if they exhibit cough, fever or flu-like symptoms.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi is calling on residents to follow public health advice and take care of others in the community should they become infected.

"Yes, it's very serious," Nenshi said. "No, there's no need to panic."

Nenshi said those who are experiencing symptoms should contact Health Link at 811.

"There's no need to panic, and there's certainly no need to stock up on toilet paper. It's arespiratory illness, not an intestinal illness," he said. "But it is important for us to understand this is serious. This is going to get worse. There will be many more cases in Calgary and in Alberta.

"Our goal here is to use good public health measures to flatten the curve."

The city will also be making determinations on whether to continue to hold city-run events in the next few weeks and months.

Alberta reported five newcases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number in the province to 19, all of which are travel-related.

• Have you got a news tiptied to the COVID-19 outbreak? You can reach CBC Calgaryat calgarynewstips@cbc.ca or CBC Edmonton here.