Health Minister Jason Copping. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Wednesday Update

Copping encouraged by falling COVID numbers in Alberta

May 26, 2022 | 9:32 AM

The province has released its latest weekly report on COVID-19. The numbers reported in this update reflect data from May 17-23, 2022.

During that time, 2,737 cases were confirmed across the province, or a daily average of 391.

16,053 tests were conducted over the last week, meaning the positivity rate was 17 per cent.

Health Minster Jason Copping says COVID-19 cases have been falling significantly in recent weeks.

“The peak of B.A.2 cases has passed and the current wave is receding. That’s good news, especially for the people working in our healthcare system,” says Copping.

no flag or crosswalk requests received

Didsbury citizens' group vehemently opposed to proposed 'Public Spaces Neutrality Bylaw'

Mar 20, 2026

makin' stuff up!

Thurber improv team wins regionals, will head to Ottawa

Mar 20, 2026

travel occurred march 10

Measles exposure reportedly travelled from Calgary to Red Deer, Edmonton and Grande Prairie

Mar 20, 2026

Copping was also encouraged by hospitalization numbers.

Provincially, 1,040 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID including 31 who have been admitted to intensive care. This marks decreases of 125 for hospitalizations and 11 for ICU admissions compared to last week’s report.

Copping says, “The number of COVID positive patients in hospital is down again, and sharply, in the past week. The total number of patients in ICU has been around 150 over the past few days, well within the pre-COVID base of 173 beds.”

Over the last week, 55 Albertans died from COVID including 24 in the Calgary Zone, 13 in the Edmonton Zone, seven in the North Zone, six in the Central Zone, and five in the South Zone.

Below is a breakdown of COVID-19 in each health zone in Alberta:

• Calgary Zone
  • 234,629 cases
  • 411 in hospital, 10 in ICU
  • 1,252 deaths (24 new)
• Edmonton Zone
  • 186,160 cases
  • 344 in hospital, 15 in ICU
  • 1,729 deaths (13 new)
• North Zone
  • 62,954 cases
  • 90 in hospital, two in ICU
  • 548 deaths (seven new)
• Central Zone
  • 59,161 cases
  • 134 in hospital, one in ICU
  • 581 deaths (six new)
• South Zone
  • 37,809 cases
  • 61 in hospital, three in ICU
  • 397 deaths (five new)

David Shepherd, NDP Health Critic, made the following statement in response to the UCP announcing they are reducing COVID-19 updates:

“Today I called on the Health Minister to provide more information to Albertans in the midst of a healthcare crisis. Instead of providing more transparency to Albertans, he will be giving less information by only providing public updates once every two weeks.

“The crisis in healthcare is no longer just about COVID-19. Thanks to the UCP’s mismanagement and war on healthcare workers, it’s spread to every corner of the system. Albertans deserve more, not less, transparency and accountability about how the UCP will address the problems they’ve made so much worse, including the doctor shortage, crisis in EMS, and cancelled and diverted surgeries across the province.

“Albertans can not trust the UCP with their healthcare. And it is clear the UCP are not willing to do the work needed to win their trust back.”

(With files from rdnewsNOW)