Canadian military nurses will begin work at an Edmonton hospital today to help alleviate pressure on a critical care unit overburdened with COVID-19 patients.
The Canadian Armed Forces says eight critical care nursing officers — from Ontario and Nova Scotia — are to begin shifts as early as this afternoon at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Alberta requested assistance from the military last month as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and intensive care admissions spiked.
The military support is to be in place until the end of October.
New measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta also come into effect today, including a reduction in the outdoor gathering limit to 20 people from 200 and the resumption of public reporting of schools with at least two known infections.
Additionally, Albertans 75 and older and First Nations, Inuit and Metis people aged 65 and older can now book a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2021.