By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

UPDATE 27 - APRIL 9

28 new cases of COVID-19 in Alberta, three more deaths

Apr 9, 2020 | 4:05 PM

AfAAlberta now has 1,451 cases of COVID-19, 28 more than Wednesday.

There has also been an increase of three deaths, bringing the provincial total to 32. Two of three new deaths are in Calgary Zone, and another is in Edmonton Zone.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw said there are 192 cases suspected to be from community transfer, while 592 have recovered, or 74 more in the last day.

Central Zone, which includes Red Deer, saw an increase of zero cases from Wednesday to Thursday, and remains at 72 cases.

Central Zone data (as of April 9, 2020):

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City of Red Deer: 16 active, 16 recovered
Red Deer County: 7 active, 5 recovered
City of Wetaskiwin: 0 active, 7 recovered
Mountain View County: 2 active, 3 recovered
Lacombe County: 1 active, 3 recovered
Beaver County: 1 active, 1 recovered
Clearwater County: 1 active, 0 recovered
City of Lacombe: 0 active, 2 recovered
City of Camrose: 0 active, 1 recovered, 1 death
County of Stettler: 0 active, 1 recovered
Camrose County: 0 active, 1 recovered
County of Vermilion River: 0 active, 1 recovered
County of Minburn: 0 active, 1 recovered
Ponoka County: 0 active, 1 recovered
Kneehill County: 0 active, 1 recovered
County of Wetaskiwin: 0 active, 0 recovered

Total: 72 cases (28 active [-5], 44 recovered [+5], 1 death)

(Note: For some smaller municipalities, click the ‘Local geographical area’ button in the lower left hand corner of the geospatial map at Alberta.ca/covid19.)

Data by zone (as of April 9, 2020):

Calgary Zone: 878 cases, 22 deaths
Edmonton Zone: 376 cases, 5 deaths
North Zone: 97 cases, 4 deaths
Central Zone: 72 cases, 1 death
South Zone: 26 cases, 0 deaths
Unknown: 2 cases, 0 deaths

Total: 1,451 (23 new) cases, 32 deaths (3 new)

Dr. Hinshaw also noted that Alberta is expanding access to lab tests to better trace the spread of COVID-19. This includes for people who are symptomatic and living in Calgary Zone, symptomatic and living with someone 65 or older, and essential workers whose workplaces remain accessible to the public.

To find out if you’re eligible, click here.

Additionally on Thursday, Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced a temporary expansion to the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary to help with that city’s high number of cases.

Of all the province’s cases, 61 per cent are in Calgary Zone.

A 6,000 square foot treatment space with 100 more care spaces will open by the end of April, Shandro said. Worth $235,000, the building is made possible thanks to a donation from Sprung Structures.

AHS will invest up to $3 million to turn the structure into a site for safe, high-quality health care delivery.