Alberta has a one-month supply of N95 masks for frontline workers helping patients who are infected with COVID-19.

The province is working to secure more, Premier Jason Kenney said Monday, noting the supply is sufficient for now.

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“We are constantly seeking more supplies and ordering from suppliers around the world, and of course we hope to participate in domestic procurement efforts here in Canada and in Alberta,” Kenney said.

He also said the province is looking to procure non-medical masks for the general public, as well as the homemade variety.

The premier has previously said that he expects COVID-19 to peak in the province in May. He promised Monday that a more detailed breakdown of how the province is modelling the illness will be presented on Wednesday in the legislative assembly.

Kenney will make a televised address Tuesday at 6 p.m. to update Albertans on the government’s progress.

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“I ask people to be prepared for what can be some very challenging numbers as we look at the perspective damage that this virus could still do in our province,” he said.

Changes for employees and employers

Meanwhile, Labour Minister Jason Copping announced temporary changes to the Employment Standards Code.

Unpaid job-protected leave is in effect for employees who are caring for children affected by school or daycare closures or those caring for people with COVID-19. The length of the leave is flexible, and the 90-day employment requirement is waived.

The maximum time for temporary layoffs related to COVID-19 has been increased from 60 to 120 days to ensure employees stay attached to a job longer. The change is retroactive to March 17.

Employers no longer need to give 24-hour written notice for shift changes or two weeks’ notice for changes to work schedules. Now businesses have to provide the notice “as soon as practical.”

The government has also removed the requirement for eight to 16 weeks’ notice for group termination notice to employees and unions, when 50 or more employees are terminated at the same time.

The process for approvals related to modifying employment standards will also be streamlined to allow employers and employees to respond quicker to changing conditions at the workplace.

The employment changes are immediate, and will be in place as long as the government determines it is necessary and the public health emergency order for the COVID-19 pandemic remains.

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This week at the legislature

The legislative assembly resumes Tuesday. Along with presenting the province’s modelling for the virus on Wednesday, Kenney said MLAs may consider “calling on the federal government for urgent financial backstop for Alberta’s energy sector.”

Kenney said he will announce measures on Thursday to prevent wildfires ahead of the upcoming long weekend.

“That will include a fire ban in various areas of the province before we get to this weekend because, to be blunt, we are quite concerned about the possibility of managing this pandemic and then having a lot of wildfires at the same time, like we did last summer and spring,” he said.

“Those wildfires could severely affect air quality, which could complicate the physical condition of people susceptible to the coronavirus.”

What’s your COVID story? How have you been dealing with the sudden change in daily life following the outbreak? We want to hear from you — at home, at work, behind the lines. Contact us at edm-feedback@postmedia.com