Military reinforcements to battle COVID-19 in Alberta next week, medical experts say more must be done

Up to eight Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) nursing officers will be ready on Monday to help Alberta’s beleaguered health care system, but some medical experts believe the provincial government must take more action.

Up to eight Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) nursing officers will be ready on Monday to help  Alberta’s beleaguered health care system, but some medical experts believe the provincial government must take more action.

Bill Blair, the federal minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, confirmed in a statement on Saturday that the CAF members will be in place next week and be ready to provide care for COVID-19 patients.

In addition, Blair said planning to send 20 medical professionals from the Canadian Red Cross to augment ICU staff is still underway. No timeline was given as to when the federal minister expected the medical staff to be operational.

“We are always ready to help Canadians across the country during difficult times, and this pandemic has been no different,” Blair said.

“The Canadian Armed Forces, Canadian Red Cross, and health professionals have stepped up time and again over the past 19 months to answer the call to protect people, and I want to thank all those on the front lines who continue to keep Canadians safe."

As of Friday, the province had 263 patients in ICUs with COVID-19 – the fourth-highest amount of patients to date. More than 1,060 patients were in hospitals. Another 53 patients were receiving care in ICUs for non-COVID-19 related needs.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) said the province had 374 total ICU beds – including 201 additional surge spaces, a 116 per cent increase over the normal baseline of 173 beds.