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Alberta preparing steps for second wave of COVID-19

Last Updated Jul 13, 2020 at 10:52 am MDT

Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro.

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) — As Alberta prepares for the potential second wave of COVID-19, the province is launching a third-party review into its response.

The review will be similar to those conducted into past disasters, like the Fort McMurray fire and the 2013 floods in southern Alberta.

Officials say this will help prepare Alberta for a potential second wave of the virus — and they’re currently accepting bids on who’ll conduct the review.

They’re hoping it gets started around mid-August.

Meantime, Health Minister Tyler Shandro says the province has stockpiled personal protective equipment (PPE) and is prepared for what may come next.”I think we’ve done a lot of work to make sure that we do have the PPE and workforce capacity for an ongoing basis, because, look, we’re going to be dealing with COVID for quite a long time,” Shandro said.

He says the province will continue to make sure Alberta Health Services (AHS) has the funding it needs to keep up workforce capacity to work on testing, contact tracing and whatever else it needs to combat the pandemic.

Shandro adds that they’ve also invested in things like 3D printers so AHS can print its own swabs for testing purposes.

“That’s been a big part of why I think we’re at a place here in Alberta where we can continue to make sure we have that capacity and funding in the system to continue to react to COVID,” he said.

The minister also added that he’s very confident in Alberta’s PPE supply.