By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

SEPT. 18 CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Six months since first case of COVID-19 in Red Deer

Sep 18, 2020 | 4:09 PM

It’s been half a year since Red Deer recorded its first case of COVID-19.

Active cases in the city have remained relatively low over the past six months with Red Deer hitting a high of 18 active cases on September 8.

As of Friday, Sept. 18, Red Deer has nine active cases, an increase of one over the past 24 hours. The city has had 95 recoveries — the same as a day ago — for a total of 104 cases.

The city has recorded zero deaths attributed to the virus .

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

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It was on March 16, two days before the city’s first case, and 11 days after the province recorded its first case of COVID-19, that The City of Red Deer declared a state of local emergency.

It lapsed on June 14, while the provincial public health emergency ended June 15.

On July 24, outbreaks of two and three cases were declared at Red Deer Regional Hospital and Waskasoo Kiwanis Towers, respectively. Both outbreaks have since ended.

Then, on August 25, Red Deer city council agreed to make face coverings mandatory on transit, effective Aug. 31. Council agreed that should the city ever reach 25 active cases at one time, or 25 cases per 100,000 people, it could reconsider making face coverings mandatory in public places.

On Sept. 11, the first school-based case of COVID-19 was confirmed at Escuela Vista Grande. The second was confirmed Sept. 17 at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. It’s not believed either of those cases were transmitted within the school.

Meantime, Alberta Health reported 107 new cases of COVID-19 across the province on Friday, upping the total to 16,381.

There are 1,424 active cases in Alberta, a decrease of 59 since Thursday. However, Alberta recorded one additional death, putting that total to 255.

Recoveries are up to 14,702, while 44 (+3) people are in hospital and seven (-1) Albertans are in intensive care.

In Central Zone, there are 24 active cases, five fewer than Thursday and eight fewer than on Wednesday. The zone has 619 recoveries, and zero people in hospital. The zone has had seven deaths.

More than 11,300 tests were completed in the last day, putting Alberta over the 900,000 mark as far as individuals tested is concerned. More than 1.18 million tests have been given.

More information is at Alberta.ca/covid19.

MORE NEWS FOR SEPT. 18, 2020: COVID-19 case ‘likely transmitted’ within Edmonton school: Hinshaw