By Troy Gillard

WEDNESDAY UPDATE

Red Deer down to 216 active COVID-19 cases, one more death reported

Jan 13, 2021 | 3:47 PM

Alberta reported another 875 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

That’s out of 15,880 test results over the past 24 hours for a positivity rate of 5.3 per cent.

There are now 12,838 active cases in Alberta, down 382 from Tuesday. The province recorded another 1,234 recoveries on Wednesday to bring Alberta’s total to 99,412.

The number of Albertans hospitalized due to COVID-19 sits at 820, an increase of one. That includes 137 people in intensive care, five more than Tuesday.

Another 23 deaths from COVID-19 were reported Tuesday to bring Alberta’s total to 1,368.

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In Red Deer, the number of active cases as of Wednesday sits at 216 down nine from Tuesday. There have been 1,417 recoveries, an increase of 20 as the total number of COVID-19 cases attributed to the city rose by 12 to 1,646.

Sadly, another COVID-19 death has been reported in Red Deer to bring the city’s total to 13.

Red Deer County has 44 active cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, down five, while Sylvan Lake has 28, a decrease of three.

There are 63 active cases in Clearwater County (Rocky Mountain House), a decrease of 10.

Lacombe County has 29 active cases, down one, and the city of Lacombe has 34, same as Tuesday.

Ponoka County saw its active case count go from 454 on Tuesday to 409 on Wednesday, a decrease of 49.

Mountain View County has 22 active cases, same as Tuesday, Olds has 28, down one, and Kneehill County is down one to 11. Stettler and County has seven active cases, an increase of one.

The Central Zone as a whole has 1,275 active cases as of Wednesday, a decrease of 119, with 80 hospitalizations, including 14 who remain in intensive care at Red Deer Regional Hospital.

Two new deaths were reported in the Central Zone on Wednesday, bringing the total to 64. The latest deaths in the zone both occurred on Jan. 12 – a man in his 80s linked to the outbreak at Seasons Camrose (case included comorbidities) and a woman in her 80s (case included comorbidities).

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health said Wednesday that she knows people may be starting to tune messages out as the pandemic enters the 10^th month.

“For example, for months now I’ve been saying that we’re all in this together, and I know that for many this phrase is wearing thin,” Dr. Deena Hinshaw acknowledged during her latest briefing. “For many people, this time we are in now is the most challenging moment in the pandemic so far.”

Hinshaw said few have lived through a time of adversity like now, but the phrase she has often said is not a slogan.

“It is an irrefutable, biological fact of COVID-19 that we cannot escape or choose to opt-of. COVID-19 shows us that a grocery store clerk is connected not only to the shopper but also to the shopper’s kids, their co-workers and friends.

“It shines a light on the link between a long-term care resident and the worker who cares for them as well as the worker’s spouse, the co-workers of those spouses and those co-workers friends.”

Hinshaw said cases rise because we are infecting each other and fall when we are protecting each other.

“Business owners who choose to reopen despite our current restrictions are increasing the number of close contacts that happen in their community. Possibly making it harder for other business owners if that means restrictions need to stay in place longer.”

She said those who prepare for a safe reopening and adhering to the measures currently in place are helping their communities and protecting the health-care system and helping lower the community transmission levels to a place where restrictions can be lifted.

“Twice now we have reduced the rising spread by working together and bringing our contact numbers down. This is the only tool we have to control the spread of the virus until enough vaccine is available to protect the majority of our population. Until then, limiting in-person interaction is the best way to protect our health system and save lives.”

The province announced on Wednesday that satellite vaccine clinics have opened in emergency departments in hospitals across Alberta.

Officials noted that nine satellite clinics have already taken place, with more than 425 emergency department staff vaccinated. As more vaccine becomes available, the province says additional clinics will be opened for eligible staff.

Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health are piloting the use of temporary clinics to increase opportunities for eligible emergency department staff and physicians to get vaccinated.