Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced today 216 new COVID-19 case in Alberta, bringing our total to 4696.

There have been 1664 recoveries. 87 people are currently recovering in the hospital, 20 of these are in intensive care.  

There have been 2 new deaths, bringing our total to 75. 

There are currently 458 cases in continuing care.  

Dr. Hinshaw is concerned about people seeing these numbers of deaths and hospitalizations as just another stat. She reminds us that there are many families grieving losses or worried about loved ones in hospital. It is because of these families that we cannot give up and need to continue to work together to fight COVID-19. 

Over 1000 tests have been done on those experiencing homelessness. All were negative until yesterday when the first case was identified in Calgary. There are four in the City. Testing is happening of all close-contacts at the affected facilities, both symptomatic and asymptomatic. 

Fourteen cases have been identified in Bear’s Paw First Nation in southern Alberta. The community has an experienced emergency management team that worked through the 2013 floods. Dr. Hinshaw is confident the community is able to manage the outbreak. 

There have been two small hospital outbreaks at hospitals in Edmonton. Numbers at the facilities may change over the coming days as AHS learns more about the situation. They have been taking precautionary measures when just one case is identified, and outbreak locations are posted as soon as there are two cases. The cases are not spread to different locations throughout the facilities. 

No decision has been made on when mass gather restrictions will be lifted. AHS does not want to rush the decision and risk spread as COVID-19 can easily and quickly spread at gatherings. 

The province is currently in discussion about our relaunch plan and determining when some restrictions may be eased.  

Dr. Hinshaw reminds Albertans that those who are healthy and not close contacts of those with COVID-19 can spend time outside. They can meet with small groups of friends as long as 2 metres of distance is maintained and no food or drink is shared. 

Watch the full update here: