Special Message from St. Paul Regional Director of Emergency Management Trevor Kotowich

A Message from the St. Paul Regional Director of Emergency Management

There has been much discussion on the use of personal masks. Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw has said, “We know that masks can limit the spread of infection from someone who is infected to others. We also know, so far, that a small portion of people with COVID spread the virus before they have symptoms.”

What also needs to be made clear is that our health care workers and first-responders, who are in the highest risk settings, need to have surgical and medical masks before anyone else. We recommend wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g. grocery stores and pharmacies).

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face coverings and wash hands immediately after removing.

With the Premier of Alberta releasing the Provincial models regarding COVID-19 and its spread last week, we need to continue to be vigilante in the efforts we have taken thus far. Alberta is taking aggressive measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19, and our Incident Management Team in the Region of St. Paul applauds our citizens for your efforts and sacrifices.

These are the steps you can continue to take to protect yourself and others:

• Practice physical distancing, keeping at least 2 meters from others while out in the
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed
• Watch for COVID-19 symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore

Trevor Kotowich

Regional Director of Emergency Management

County of St. Paul, Town of St. Paul, Town of Elk Point, Summer Village of Horseshoe Bay