Premier emphasizes reason for caution as some key COVID figures trend downward

Kenney said there are 106 current COVID ICU admissions, compared to 257 during the September peak of the Delta wave, but added there remains “real stress” on the health care system across the province.

The premier said he wants to see the Restrictions Exemption Program end as soon as possible, but now is not the right time with hospital numbers as high as they’ve been at any point during the pandemic.

Chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said Alberta is expanding PCR testing eligibility to children under the age of two, reasoning that it’s pragmatic since rapid tests are not currently licensed for use on children under the age of two.

On Wednesday, Alberta Health said it has detected three cases of the BA. 2 variant.

There are now 1,469 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 106 of which are in ICU, and 3,518 deaths.

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: 1,469 (+51)

ICU admissions: 106 (-2)

Deaths: 3,518 (+14) >> one previously reported death deemed not related to COVID

MORE HEALTHCARE CAPACITY DATA

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Total cases: 484,400 (+3,218)

Total recoveries: 436,581 (+6.647)

Active caseload: 44,301 (-3,442)

Tests completed: 9,352

One-day positivity rate: 34.4% (-2.72)

Seven-day positivity rate: 37.1% (+0.25)

Active variant cases: 1,466 (-193)

Recorded Omicron cases: 22,946 (+147)

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: 12,157 (+90)

Total recoveries: 11,077 (+120)

Active caseload: 996 (-30)

*With the province limiting testing in the fifth wave, these confirmed cases do not accurately reflect the number of cases in the community.

Deaths: 84 >> unchanged since 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: 138 (-2)

ICU admissions: 9 (-1)

Active caseload:3,675 (-28)

Deaths: 432 (+2)

Death details:

· Date of death. 1/24/2022. A male in his 40s in Central zone. The case did not involve pre-existing conditions

· Date of death. 1/25/2022. A male in his 70s in Central zone. The case involved pre-existing conditions

Elsewhere in the zone

Red Deer County: 247 (+3)

Sylvan Lake: 91 (-1)

Lacombe County: 129 (+2)

City of Lacombe: 135 (-1)

Ponoka County: 719 (-4)

Brazeau County: 87 (+4)

Clearwater County: 96 (+1)

Mountain View County: 96 (-7)

Olds: 67 (-10)

Kneehill County: 59 (+5)

County of Stettler: 57 (+9)

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: 8,238,242 (+17,469)

Of eligible 5+ population…

% one dose: 85.4

% two doses: 78.8

% three doses: 34.2

Of total population…

% one dose: 80.2

% two doses: 74.0

% three doses: 32.1

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: 78,453 (+24)

People with two doses: 73,421 (+62)

% eligible pop.: 73.1

% total pop.: 69.0

People with three doses: 30,905 (+200)

% eligible pop.: 30.8

% total pop.: 29.0

WATCH PREMIER KENNEY’S UPDATE BELOW

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

Premier emphasizes reason for caution as some key COVID figures trend downward

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