Red Deer remains with 417 active COVID-19 cases

There are now 763 Albertans in hospital because of COVID-19, an increase of 14, including 138 in ICU, a decrease of one.

An additional 30 deaths related to COVID-19 were reported, a new daily record that brings Alberta’s total to 790.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw called it a heartbreaking figure.

“While these deaths did not all occur yesterday, this is the highest figure that I have had the sad task of reporting,” lamented Alberta’s chief medical officer of health.

“If anyone still needs reminding about the seriousness of this virus– the seriousness of the restrictions that are currently in place and the importance of doing everything possible to limit our interactions and break the chains of transmission, this is it,” Hinshaw said.

In Red Deer, the number of active cases remains unchanged at 417. The number of recoveries has risen by 31 to 725 as the total number of cases attributed to the city rose by 31 to 1,142.

Red Deer County saw its active case count rise by one to 100, while Sylvan Lake saw its drop by six to sit at 38.

Clearwater County (Rocky Mountain House) saw its active case count rise by six to a total of 64.

Lacombe County has 51 active cases as of Thursday, a decrease of five. The city of Lacombe’s active case count sits at 27, a decrease of two.

Ponoka County saw its active case count rise by 14 to sit at 244.

Mountain View County has 34 active cases, aincrease of four, Olds has 26, a decrease of two, and Kneehill County is up by one to 20. Starland County has no active cases, while the County of Stettler remains with 21.

There are now 1,462 active cases across the Central zone, an increase of four from Wednesday, and 64 hospitalizations, a decrease of four. There are four people in the zone currently in intensive care. The Central zone has had 28 deaths related to COVID-19, an increase of one over the last 24 hours.

With the holidays almost here, Dr. Hinshaw reiterated her message that “this year we can and must celebrate differently.”

She said that holiday gatherings with people outside of your household are not only against the current public health restrictions but are also the wrong thing to do right now.

“The safest way to celebrate this year is in-person with only your own household or with your designated two close contacts if you live alone. Celebrations with others should be virtual,” said Hinshaw.

To those who think they could bend the rules out of compassion, she said the compassionate choice is to follow the rules.

Alberta’s vaccination program has seen 394 health-care workers receive their first dose of the vaccine as of Wednesday evening.

The chief medical officer of health said it will take time for the province to get enough vaccine doses to inoculate everyone and asks for patience.

The vaccination program is starting with critical health-care and long-term-care workers, as well as those living in continuing care “to save lives and protect the health-care system for all Albertans,” Hinshaw said.

As of Thursday, there are 294 schools in the province where outbreaks have been declared. Alberta Health’s threshold for declaring an outbreak in school is two cases being in a school while infectious within 14 days.

In Red Deer, outbreaks have been declared for École Camille J. Lerouge School, Westpark Middle School, Mountview School, St. Francis of Assisi, Gateway Christian School and St. Patrick’s Community School.

Schools in Red Deer that are on ‘watch’ status (five or more cases where disease could have been acquired or transmitted in the school) include Hunting Hills High School, Central Middle School, Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School, École Secondaire Notre Dame High School, Normandeau School and École Barrie Wilson Elementary School.

(With file from Chris Brown – CHAT News Today)

by Troy Gillard

Red Deer remains with 417 active COVID-19 cases

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