New variant identified in Alberta, Red Deer sees two more deaths

Six additional COVID-19 deaths were reported to Alberta Health in the last 24 hours to bring the province’s total as of Sunday to 1,946. The deaths occurred between March 11-13.

As of Sunday, there have been 920 total variant cases of COVID-19 in the province, 902 of which are the UK variant. That total is 66 higher than Saturday and now includes two cases of the P.1 Brazilian variant. Since Friday, the province has added 136 variant cases.

We have identified the first confirmed cases of the P.1 variant (the variant first identified in Brazil) in Alberta. These are both travel related and were detected thanks to the aggressive screening processes in place. #COVID19AB (1/5)

— Dr. Deena Hinshaw (@CMOH_Alberta) March 14, 2021

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Red Deer as of Sunday sits at 108, down seven from Saturday. There have been 2,753 recoveries, an increase of 14 as the total number of cases attributed to Red Deer rose by nine to a total of 2,894. The number of deaths in Red Deer linked to COVID-19 is up two to 33.

The two Central Zone deaths reported by Alberta Health Sunday include a male in his 60s, which included comorbidities, and a female in her 90s with comorbidities. The latter is linked to an outbreak at Symphony Senior Living Aspen Ridge in Red Deer.

Alberta Health confirmed Sunday that the outbreak at Symphony Aspen Ridge was declared Jan. 22 and has been linked to 47 cases, 10 of which are active. 33 people have recovered and there have been four deaths.

Alberta Health also confirmed Sunday that there are only seven active cases linked to the COVID-19 outbreak at the Olymel pork processing facility in Red Deer, a one-day decrease of three, along with 508 recoveries. Total cases stemming from the outbreak sits at 518, a number which has stopped growing. There have been three deaths there.

Active cases across Central Zone as of Sunday (one-day and seven-day change), and total deaths
*This week’s seven-day change figures are compared to last Saturday as only preliminary data was shared last Sunday

Red Deer County: 18 (-1, -5), 3 deaths

Sylvan Lake: 13 (+1, –), 2 deaths

Lacombe County: 30 (-2, -1), 1 death

City of Lacombe: 21 (+1, +4), 1 death

Ponoka County: 73 (-2, +22), 12 deaths

Clearwater County: 31 (+2, +14), 1 death

Brazeau County: 3 (+1, -1)

Mountain View County: 18 (–, -2), 1 death

Olds: 10 (-2, +2)

Kneehill County: 4 (–, +2), 3 deaths

County of Stettler: 6 (+3, +5), 2 deaths

The Central Zone has 452 active cases as of Sunday, an increase of one. There are 24 hospitalizations, and five people receiving intensive care for COVID-19 at Red Deer Regional Hospital, each unchanged from yesterday. The zone has had 120 deaths as a result of COVID-19, two of which were reported today.

Seven-day change figures (updated by rdnewsNOW each Sunday)
*This week’s seven-day change figures are compared to last Saturday as only preliminary data was shared last Sunday

Alberta

Total: 138,424 (+2,887)

Active: 4,697 (+48)

Recovered: 131,781 (+2,807)

Deaths: 1,946 (+32)

Hospitalized: 248 (+1)

ICU: 38 (-4)

Positivity rate: ~4.7% (+~0.5%)

UK (B.1.1.7) variant cases: 902 (+313)

S. Africa (B.1.351) variant cases: 16 (+6)

Brazilian (P.1) variant cases: 2 (+2)

Total variant cases: 920 (+321)

Vaccine doses administered: 357,983 (+75,309)

Tests completed: 3,529,644 (+66,845)

People tested: 1,853,914 (+19,323)

Central Zone

Total: 10,662 (+297)

Active: 452 (-59)

Recovered: 10,090 (+351)

Deaths: 120 (+5)

Hospitalized: 24 (-10)

ICU: 5 (-3)

Variant cases: 173 – all U.K. (+53)

Red Deer

Total: 2,894 (+53)

Active: 108 (-170)

Recovered: 2,753 (+229)

Deaths: 33 (+4)

Central Zone school cases announced since last Sunday
*alert = 2-4 cases, outbreak = 5-9 cases, outbreak tier 2 = 10+ cases

Donalda – Donalda School (ALERT) – all classes moving online March 15-26, 44% of students and several staff isolating

Ponoka – St. Augustine School – one case

Red Deer – Notre Dame High School (ALERT)

Ponoka – Ponoka Elementary (OUTBREAK)

Blackfalds – Iron Ridge Elementary – one case

Sylvan Lake – Ecole Fox Run School (ALERT)

Red Deer – St. Teresa Avila (OUTBREAK TIER 2)

Olds – Ecole Olds High School – one case

Ponoka – Ponoka Secondary Campus (ALERT)

Lacombe – Ecole Secondaire Lacombe Composite High – one new cases (OUTBREAK)

Drumheller – Greentree School (ALERT)

Red Deer – St. Patrick’s Community School (OUTBREAK TIER 2)

Alberta Health also issued an advisory Sunday, saying more than 53,000 people have booked appointments to receive the Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine since Wednesday, meaning there are fewer than 5,000 doses remaining.

“Online appointment bookings for the Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine will be closing at 4 p.m. today, after which time they can be booked only through HealthLink at 811.

There are Covishield/AstraZeneca appointments available throughout the province, particularly in North, Central and Southern Alberta. If you choose to receive this vaccine, you may need to travel outside your home community to receive it.

AHS encourages those currently eligible – Albertans born between 1957 and 1961 (inclusive) and First Nations, Inuit and Métis born between 1972 and 1976 (inclusive) – to book now.

Albertans born between 1957 and 1961 can book by visiting ahs.ca/covidvaccine or by calling HealthLink 811. First Nations, Inuit and Métis can book by calling HealthLink at 811.

Alberta received an initial allotment of 58,500 doses of Covishield/AstraZeneca, and more is coming.”

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, will give her next update on Monday.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

New variant identified in Alberta, Red Deer sees two more deaths

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