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Visitors are no longer allowed at Alberta long-term care centres unless a resident is dying or the person is essential for delivering care as COVID-19 cases in the province hit 1,373.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, ordered the provincewide ban Tuesday, which extends to all licensed supportive-living, long-term care and other continuing-care facilities.

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COVID-19 presents an “extreme risk” to residents at all continuing-care sites, Hinshaw said in a news release, noting the province is “doing everything possible to ensure their safety.”

“I know this will have a profound impact on the lives of those residents and their families; this is not a step that we take lightly,” Hinshaw said. “I’m asking all Albertans to reach out and support their loved ones through the phone, video and any other means possible.”

Family, friends and religious leaders will be allowed to visit someone who is dying, but only one will be allowed to visit at a time.