Alberta adds 1,625 new COVID-19 cases

She said the case investigation and notification process is being adjusted to mitigate what she called an unprecedented rate of infection.

“We are now focused on investigating cases in high priority settings such as continuing care as well as those who work in health care,” Hinshaw said.

Cases not in high priority settings will still be notified of the test result and be informed about isolation requirements.

She said the decision aligns with other provinces and is necessary to ensure teams can focus on cases in high-priority areas.

The province will also start preserving testing capacity and will reserve PCR testing for higher-risk groups.

“From this point forward we recommend that rapid tests be preferentially used for those who have symptoms for most people,” she said.

Those who are symptomatic and have access to a rapid testing kit, are encouraged to use that test instead of going for a PCR test. If the test is positive and you have symptoms, Hinshaw said to consider that as confirmation you have COVID, isolate and notify close contacts. If it is negative and you have symptoms, you should stay in isolation and take another test in a day or two. If that test is negative, stay in isolation until symptoms end.

Exceptions are anyone who lives or works in high-risk setting or who qualifies for COVID antibody treatment because of clinical condition. Details are available on alberta.ca/COVID.

The province is also updating the screening process for staff in long-term care, designated supportive living and hospice care. Immunized staff who are known close contacts will be required to take a daily rapid test for 10 days following their exposure.

Even with the high number of cases and positivity rate, the number of COVID hospitalizations continues to drop. But Hinshaw said there’s no telling if that will continue.

“While these numbers have dropped in the recent week, it’s important to remember these are very high baselines, and it’s too soon to know what the severity impact from our Omicron cases will be,” she said.

Responding to today’s update, NDP Health Critic David Shepherd called the recent surge in cases “deeply troubling.”

“The Chief Medical Officer of Health said today that the number of Omicron cases is doubling every two to three days. The consequences of this rapid spread came into focus today,” says Shepherd, adding that that cutting back on testing will compromise data.

“Contact tracing is already overwhelmed, and staffing levels are under pressure. And even as the situation becomes increasingly severe, Albertans will not receive updates regularly, but sporadically over the holidays. Why is the government going dark in the middle of a crisis? Where is the Premier? Why did they not plan for a crisis they had to have seen coming?

“The UCP is again refusing to be accountable to Albertans at a time when transparency is so greatly needed.”

*Dr. Hinshaw noted that the province currently plans to give two live COVID updates on Dec. 28 & 30. Usual data will be shared Dec. 29, with cumulative numbers for each day dating back to Dec. 24. There will be a similar break and cumulative update leading up to and on Jan. 4.

PROVINCIAL NUMBERS

The active caseload is now 8,359, up 1,294 from Wednesday. This with the province adding 1,625 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

There are now 2,637 confirmed cases of Omicron, up 506 from Wednesday.

With 11,871 tests conducted over the past 24 hours, the seven-day positivity rate is 9.34 per cent, with a one-day rate of over 13 per cent.

There are 318 people currently in hospital with COVID-19, down eight from Wednesday, with 64 of those patients in ICU, down one from yesterday.

There have been zero additional deaths reported to Alberta Health in the last 24 hours, leaving the province’s death toll from the virus at 3,299.

SCHOOL OUTBREAK ALERT/OUTBREAK LIST

CENTRAL ZONE

Red Deer has 102 active cases of COVID-19, up three from Wednesday.

Meantime, recoveries in Red Deer rose by five to 9,385 as the total number of COVID-19 cases attributed to Red Deer rose by eight in the last day to 9,571.

Red Deer’s death toll stemming from COVID-19 is 84, with none reported today.

The Central Zone as a whole has 460 active cases as of Thursday, up six in the last day.

There are 63 hospitalizations, up two, and eight people are receiving intensive care at Red Deer Regional Hospital, up one.

Central Zone has recorded 414 deaths, including zero reported in the last day.

Active cases across Central Zone (one-day change)

Red Deer County: 24 (–)

Sylvan Lake: 7 (+1)

Lacombe County: 15 (-3)

City of Lacombe: 23 (+1)

Ponoka County: 17 (+1)

Brazeau County: 6 (+1)

Clearwater County: 33 (+4)

Mountain View County: 30 (+3)

Olds: 16 (–)

Kneehill County: 10 (+3)

County of Stettler: 67 (-21)

VACCINATIONS

Alberta has delivered 7,452,649 vaccine doses as of Dec. 21, up 52,365 in the last day.

A total of 761,153 booster (third) shots have been administered, up 47,144.

Of the 5+ population, 83.9 per cent has received at least one dose (78.8% total population), while 77.3 per cent is now fully vaccinated (72.7% total population).

*Local numbers below now reflect percentages based on the number of people in Red Deer who are 5+, which recently changed from 12+, therefore numbers may be lower than they had been; the Government of Alberta says 100,446 people in Red Deer are eligible for vaccination, with a population of 106,420.

In Red Deer, 76,738 (76.4% eligible/72.1% total population) people have received at least one dose, up 77.

Meanwhile, 71,936 (71.6% eligible/67.6% total population) residents are fully vaccinated, up 43.

Today’s update from Dr. Hinshaw can be watched below

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Alberta adds 1,625 new COVID-19 cases

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