Premier speaks as record COVID numbers keep rising

The premier urged people to get vaccinated and stay home when sick, saying they are the two most important things people can do to stop the spread and keep everyone safe.

He said evidence shows that even though there are more cases among vaccinated people compared to unvaccinated people, their cases will be mild.

“So please don’t be fooled by those who point to high case numbers right now arguing that it’s proof the vaccines aren’t working.”

He said nothing could be further from the truth.

“The vaccination rates of hospital patients confirm vaccines are doing their job, they’re doing what they’re supposed to do. Which is to prevent severe symptoms, severe outcomes, hospitalization and death,” Kenney said.

He added more than 70 per cent of the COVID patients in ICU are unvaccinated, who make up 10 per cent of the population.

Kenney also said a growing number of staff and students in isolation may mean return to online temporary at-home learning.

This is the reality of teaching and learning during COVID, he says.

“But I am pleased to say that school authority preparation, experience gained over the past two difficult years and the brief extension of the winter break last week served the education system well,” Kenney says.

Only a small number of school authorities have had to switch classes and grades to online learning, said Kenney, and others have the flexibility to make the right local decisions.

Schools and school boards continue to wait for rapid test kits across Alberta. Supply chain issues are delaying delivery of kits coming from the federal government as those bought by the provincial government.

Kenney estimates the average Albertan will be able to get rapid test kits at some point in January but couldn’t offer an exact date.

WATCH TODAY’S UPDATE HERE

PROVINCIAL NUMBERS

*Numbers are up to date as of previous day’s end. Numbers in parentheses represent a one-day change unless otherwise noted

Hospitalizations: 786 (+38)

ICU admissions: 79 (-3)

People in hospital (non-ICU): 707

Zero doses: 235

One dose: 29

Two doses: 288

Three doses: 155

People in ICU: 79

Zero doses: 54

One dose: 4

Two doses: 15

Three doses: 5

MORE HEALTHCARE CAPACITY DATA

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Total cases: 424,322 (+6,010)

Total recoveries: 364,224 (+4,498)

Active caseload: 62,733 (+1,504)

Tests completed: 14,347

One-day positivity rate: 40.9%

Seven-day positivity rate: 39.28%

Active variant cases: 8,723 (+410)

Recorded Omicron cases: 17,548 (+1,234)

Deaths: 3,375 (+8)

RED DEER

*Numbers are up to date as of previous day’s end. Numbers in parentheses represent a one-day change unless otherwise noted

Total cases: 11,028 (+156)

Total recoveries: 9,757 (+76)

Active caseload: 1,187 (+80)

Deaths: 84 (last change was Dec. 7, 2021)

CENTRAL ZONE

*Numbers are up to date as of previous day’s end. Numbers in parentheses represent a one-day change unless otherwise noted

Hospitalizations: 81 (–)

ICU admissions: 7 (–)

Active caseload: 3,691 (+261)

Deaths: 422 (–)

Death details: n/a

Elsewhere in the zone

Red Deer County: 248 (+17)

Sylvan Lake: 110 (+8)

Lacombe County: 107 (+12)

City of Lacombe: 143 (+4)

Ponoka County: 340 (+51)

Brazeau County: 101 (-19)

Clearwater County: 95 (+1)

Mountain View County: 120 (+1)

Olds: 97 (+12)

Kneehill County: 46 (+2)

County of Stettler: 63 (+7)

For more data from central Alberta communities, click here.

VACCINATIONS

*Numbers are up to date as of previous day’s end. Numbers in parentheses represent a one-day change unless otherwise noted

Province

Doses administered: 7,981,543 (+26,840)

Booster doses administered: 1,218,194 (+21,813)

Of eligible 12+ population…

% one dose: 89.7

% two doses: 85.7

% three doses: 32.4

Of eligible 5+ population…

% one dose: 85.0

% two doses: 78.0

% three doses: 29.3

Of total population…

% one dose: 79.8

% two doses: 73.3

% three doses: 27.6

Red Deer

*The Government of Alberta says 100,446 people in Red Deer are eligible (5+) for vaccination, with a population of 106,420.The government has not yet begun sharing geographical data for those with booster doses.

People with one dose: 77,763 (+55)

% eligible pop.: 77.4

% total pop.: 73.1

People with two doses: 72,617 (+46)

% eligible pop.: 72.3

% total pop.: 68.2

by Josh Hall (rdnewsNOW) and Chris Brown (CHAT News Today)

Premier speaks as record COVID numbers keep rising

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