Red Deer with 159 active COVID-19 cases

Another 25 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours bringing Alberta’s total from COVID-19 to 1,574. None of the latest reported deaths were in the Central Zone.

“These Albertans were between the ages of 41 and 100,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Red Deer as of Monday sits at 159, up one from Sunday. There have been 1,596 recoveries, an increase of seven as the total number of cases attributed to Red Deer rose by eight to a total of 1,773.

Red Deer County has 32 active cases as of Monday, a decrease of one, while Sylvan Lake remains with 26.

Lacombe County has 25 active cases, an increase of five, and the city of Lacombe has 20, a decrease of one over the past 24 hours.

Clearwater County (Rocky Mountain House) has 79 active cases.

The active case count in Ponoka County sits at 228, down one over the past 24 hours.

Mountain View County remains with 22 active cases, Olds held steady with 12 and Kneehill County has four, a decrease of one. Stettler and County also remain with five active cases.

The Central Zone as a whole has 809 active cases as of Monday with 49 hospitalizations, including eight receiving intensive care at Red Deer Regional Hospital. The zone has had 83 deaths as a result of COVID-19.

There are currently 259 schools in Alberta on active COVID-19 alerts and nine schools on outbreak, representing about 11 per cent of schools in the province. These schools have a combined total of 500 cases. In-school transmission has been reported at 51 schools.

R values from Jan. 18-24 (confidence interval):

– Alberta province-wide: 0.81 (0.79-0.84)

– Edmonton Zone: 0.81 (0.77-0.85)

– Calgary Zone: 0.83 (0.79-0.87)

– Rest of Alberta: 0.77 (0.73-0.82)

Hinshaw took time Monday to thank the many Albertans who continue to follow the public health orders that are in place, saying it is helping to bring case numbers down.

“You are the majority, and you are the reason we continue to see promising progress in our daily case numbers, positivity rate and R value. Your sacrifices and selfless efforts are making a difference” she said.

“Through these efforts our hospitalizations have also declined, but unfortunately they remain very high. This is because hospitalization rates are a lagging indicator and on average patients admitted due to COVID-19 have an average stay of 12 days. This can be even longer for the sickest patients who need ICU care.”

Hinshaw said that until hospitalizations come down like other numbers the province needs to continue with the public health measures that are in place.

“I know this isn’t easy, especially for those whose businesses and work have been impacted, but it’s necessary given the continued strain on our health care system,” she explained.

“As soon as it is safe to recommend the easing of any restrictions we will do so.”

The Town of Blackfalds released a statement Monday after one of its employees at the Civic Cultural Centre tested positive for COVID-19.

“The staff member had no personal contact with the public as Town facilities have been closed since the latest Provincial mandate issued in December. Our thoughts are with our team member and we hope for a speedy recovery,” the Town says in its statement.

Staff members who were in close contact with this employee are currently undergoing testing and have immediately started their 14-day isolation, as per provincial and AHS guidelines. The Town of Blackfalds says the employee’s department’s area will be fully sanitized before staff re-enter the building.

by Troy Gillard

Red Deer with 159 active COVID-19 cases

What's Trending