In the Monday, Nov. 16 COVID-19 update, 860 new cases of the virus were reported from just over 12,000 tests, creating a 7% positivity rate. 

Saturday’s update had 1,026 new cases and three deaths, while Sunday’s has 991 cases and six deaths.  

There are now 10,031 active cases in the province and 29,731 total recoveries. Right now, 264 people are in the hospital with COVID-19, with 57 of these in intensive care. 

Twenty more COVID-19 related deaths were reported yesterday, for now a total of 427 since the start of the pandemic.  

Dr. Hinshaw reminds Albertans that these 20 new deaths are not just numbers, but people. She says each one will be missed and mourned. The doctor says the measures we have in place right now are literally matter of life and death, and the choices we make now will affect what our situation looks like in a few weeks. 

Dr. Hinshaw thanked people from Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Red Deer and all enhanced status areas for quickly adapting to the new measures that came into effect Friday. She recognizes that it was not an easy weekend, and says the decisions were not made lightly.  

She says she knows the next few weeks will be challenging, but with our recent numbers, “it is critical that we all continue to do our part and look at changes that we can make to our daily lives to reduce transmission.” 

In Grande Prairie, 26 new cases were identified since Friday, and 18 people recovered. There are 92 active cases in the City with 305 recoveries. In the County, 13 new cases were found over the weekend and four people recovered, for 34 active and 106 total recovered.  

The MD of Greenview had 12 new cases and four recoveries. The MD of Peace had seven new and four people recovered. Four new cases and six recoveries were identified in the MD of Fairview. The County of Northern Lights had two new. Two new were also found in Mackenzie County in addition to three recoveries. In the MD of Lesser Slave River, one new case was added. 

These numbers are all Friday to Sunday.  

Peace Region totals: 

Dr. Hinshaw is encouraging Albertans to “re-double their efforts” for the next two weeks.  

“Stay home if you are sick; wash your hands regularly and don’t touch your face with unwashed hands; maintain distance from those outside your household, and wear a mask when you are in indoor public spaces. 

“Now is not the time for parties. If you are in a community under enhanced status, it is imperative that you not have unnecessary visits from those who do not live with you. For those not in enhanced areas, remember smaller is better when it comes to gatherings. 

“We all need to do our part. We have great power when we work together.” 

Watch the full update here: