Joe Marie (Jing) Corral

By Troy Gillard

local numbers updated

Alberta loses first health worker to COVID-19

Jan 4, 2021 | 4:55 PM

Over the five days between Dec. 30 and Jan. 3, 96 Albertans died of COVID-19 to bring the province’s total to 1,142.

One of the province’s latest deaths from COVID-19 was a health care worker.

“We have learned that Joe Marie (Jing) Corral passed away on Dec. 28 after being infected with the virus,” said Bobby-Joe Borodey, AUPE vice-president.

Corral was 61 years old and worked as a Health Care Aide (HCA) at the Bethany Riverview continuing-care facility in Calgary. He leaves behind a daughter who lives in Burnaby, B.C., and a son who lives in Edmonton.

“This shows that the threat of the virus to front-line workers is real,” Borodey added. “All workers on the front lines of this pandemic fight deserve our thanks for their dedication to caring for and providing services to Albertans during this crisis. We owe them a debt that can never be adequately repaid.”

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A spokesperson for the Corral family said, “Our family is truly and eternally grateful for the support and love everyone has shown during this difficult time. We cannot thank enough those whom have offered their condolences, resources and financial support.”

The family has launched a GoFundMe page to help with funeral and other costs.

“I’m deeply saddened to hear that an Alberta health-care worker has passed away as a result of COVID-19. I want to extend my condolences to this person’s family, friends, loved ones and colleagues at this difficult time,” Health Minister Tyler Shandro said in a statement.

“Health-care workers are doing all they can to protect the people they care for, their co-workers, and themselves. The dedication and remarkable commitment I’ve witnessed from health-care workers throughout the pandemic has never wavered – you have stepped up for this province in a time of need,” he added. “The tragedy of this loss will be felt across the system, and by those who were cared for by this individual and their co-workers. Their service will not be forgotten.”

Alberta’s COVID-19 website was updated on Monday with the number of cases reported in the province between Dec. 30 and Jan. 3.

Across the province, there are 13,839 active cases, down 716, from the last detailed update on Dec. 30, and 90,554 recovered cases, up 5,727 from the same update.

Alberta’s total number of COVID-19 cases from the start of the pandemic is 105,535.

1,128 cases were reported on Sunday (Jan. 3) out of 11,963 test results for a positivity rate of 9.4 per cent.

The province also reported 459 cases on Jan. 2 out of 8,112 tests, 933 cases on Jan. 1 out of 12,719 tests, 1,361 cases on Dec. 31 out of 16,347 tests, and 1,226 new cases on Dec. 30 out of 16,867 test results.

There are currently 905 Albertans in hospital because of COVID-19, including 136 in intensive care.

“A new year is upon us, and with it comes hope for a brighter tomorrow. But our battle with COVID-19 is far from over. The actions we all take now can help bring COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations down in Alberta in the weeks to come,” Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, said in a tweet.

In the Central Zone there are 1,523 active cases of COVID-19 (up from 1,430 reported on Dec. 30) and 5,499 recoveries. There are 94 hospitalizations in the zone (same as was reported on Dec. 30), including 15 in intensive care, and the zone has now seen 47 deaths from COVID-19, which is seven more than was reported New Year’s Eve.

The most recent COVID-19 deaths in the Central Zone include:

• Date of death: Dec. 28. A female in her 90s linked to the outbreak at Points West Living in Central Zone. The case included comorbidities.

• Date of death: Dec. 30. A female in her 80s linked to the outbreak at Extendicare Michener Hill in Central Zone. The case included comorbidities.

• Date of death: Jan. 1. A female in her 20s in Central Zone. There are no known comorbidities at this time.

• Date of death: Jan. 3. A female in her 80s in Central Zone. The case included comorbidities.

• Date of death: Jan. 3. A male in his 80s linked to the outbreak at Points West Living in Central Zone. The case included comorbidities.

• Date of death: Jan. 3. A female in her 80s linked to the outbreak at Extendicare Michener Hill in Central Zone. The case included comorbidities.

After a delay in updating local case numbers, Alberta Health did update its website Monday evening.

The number of active cases in Red Deer is listed at 261, a drop of 16 from the last update on Dec. 30. Recovered cases are up by 116 to 1,266. The total number of cases attributed to the city rose by 103 from 1,431 on Dec. 30 to 1,534. Red Deer recorded three additional deaths from COVID-19 over the holidays for a total of seven (see list above for details).

In Red Deer County there are 63 active cases as of Monday, while Sylvan Lake has 39.

Clearwater County (Rocky Mountain House) has 42 active cases. Lacombe County was listed with 33 active cases of COVID-19 as of Monday, while the city of Lacombe has 41. The number of active cases in Ponoka County is listed at 512.

There are 34 active cases in Mountain View County, 36 in Olds and 12 in Kneehill County.

Stettler and County is down to 11 active cases as of Monday but has now recorded two deaths from COVID-19, both at the Points West Living facility in Stettler.

Dr. Hinshaw will provide her next live update on Tuesday.

(With file from AUPE, Government of Alberta media releases)