Dr. Deena Hinshaw speaks during her daily COVID-19 update on Friday (CPAC Live stream)

By Troy Gillard

Key measures watched

Declining COVID-19 hospitalizations in Alberta is encouraging: Dr. Hinshaw

May 8, 2020 | 4:30 PM

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health says she is shifting the way she presents the province’s daily COVID-19 numbers.

During her daily address on Friday, Dr. Deena Hinshaw said hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions are key measures being watched by health officials ahead of Alberta’s relaunch strategy.

Hinshaw said Alberta is seeing a decline in these numbers with 80 hospitalizations reported as of Friday, with 17 in intensive care (including three in the Central zone).

“It is encouraging to see these numbers coming down from last week because it means fewer people are experiencing severe outcomes from this virus,” Hinshaw said. “It also means our health-care system has the capacity to handle potential additional COVID-19 cases, if needed.”

That being said, Hinshaw is still stressing caution when it comes to gatherings as Mother’s Day is on Sunday.

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“I know we are all missing being together in ways that we once took for granted,” she acknowledged. “Despite this, I am asking you to remain cautious. I am asking you to keep being creative about other ways of connecting and sharing meaningful moments.”

Alberta reported 81 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total to 6,098.