For the second day in a row Alberta is reporting more than 100 new cases of COVID-19.
The province reported 105 new cases on Friday to bring the overall total to 9,219.
Recoveries are up 51 to 8,193. Active cases are up 52 to 859.
The province completed over 6,000 tests in the past 24 hours.
Hospitalizations in the province from COVID-19 are down by one to 68. There are 13 people currently in intensive care because of the virus, an increase of five.
Two more deaths were reported Friday which brings Alberta’s fatality count from COVID-19 to 167.
Premier Jason Kenney says the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in the province doesn’t come unexpected.
“As expected, with the lifting of restrictions we’re seeing a modest rise in cases, amongst younger people in particular,” Kenney said Friday while speaking in Sylvan Lake. “So it’s always a reminder for everybody to be careful to protect the most vulnerable.”
Kenney added that Alberta’s rates of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths have remained “low and stable” throughout the pandemic.
“We should be proud of how Albertans have responded to the COVID challenge,” he suggested. “Our pandemic response combined with tremendous effort and sacrifice by all Albertans kept the virus in check here with infection, hospitalization and death rates lower than in any major Canadian province, anywhere across the United States and anywhere in Europe — and we did it without having to lock down anywhere near as much of our economy and lives as they did elsewhere. Eighty-five per cent of businesses were able to continue to operate in Alberta safely during the height of the pandemic.”
The number of active cases in the Central Zone as of Friday rose to 92 (there were 75 on Thursday). There are 18 people in hospital in the zone due to the virus, including three in intensive care.
The number of COVID-19 recoveries in the Central Zone is 94.
Red Deer continues to have eight active while the number of recoveries is now listed at 38, an increase of one.
Other active cases in the Central Zone currently include:
County of Stettler – 12 active, 3 recovered
Kneehill County – 7 active, 2 recovered
Castor/Coronation/Consort – 6 active, 0 recovered
Lacombe County – 5 active, 4 recovered
Mountain View County – 3 active, 4 recovered
Red Deer County – 1 active, 14 recovered
Innisfail – 1 active, 1 recovered
Olds – 1 active, 4 recovered
Rimbey – 1 active, 0 recovered
Drayton Valley – 1 active, 0 recovered
(NOTE: Not all active cases in the zone are listed)
