By Chris Brown

one new case in Medicine Hat

Hinshaw: Downward trend of COVID-19 cases across the province

May 21, 2020 | 3:41 PM

Another 73 recovered cases were confirmed today by Alberta’s chief medical officer of health.

“Alberta continues to see a downward trend of COVID-19 cases across the province in active cases,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw. “While it is too early to see the full impact of the relaunch, so far our case numbers have held steady. A large part of this is thanks to you and the sacrifices you have made and continue to make.”

There were 33 new cases over the past 24 hours for a total of 6,768. There are now 926 active cases in the province and 5,710 recovered cases. Hinshaw also reported another four deaths, bringing the total to 132.

Medicine Hat recorded one new case for a total of 36. Six are active and 30 are recovered. There are no new cases in Brooks. Of that city’s 1,090 cases, 59 are active, 1,024 recovered and there have been seven deaths.

Hinshaw acknowledged frustrations about the slower reopenings in Calgary and Brooks, but assured Albertans decisions are being made with both health and the economy in mind.

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“Reopening gradually allows us to monitor any increase in spread form open retail, daycares and other activities in Calgary and Brooks where the baseline rate was higher last week,” she said. “At this point we are not seeing a concerning increase in numbers in Calgary or Brooks and overall our cases are stable.”

She said there are now just 10 active cases from the JBS meat plant in Brooks and 640 recovered cases. At the Cargill plant in High River there are five active cases and 943 recovered.

“All of these signs are encouraging, but the next few days remain critical,” Hinshaw said. “Should we continue to see these encouraging results we are hopeful that we will be able to continue to move forward with the gradual reopening in Calgary and Brooks.”

She said Albertans’ collective ability to follow public health recommendations will determine how quickly the relaunch will progress.

The South Zone recorded four new cases since Wednesday. There are 1,216 cases in the zone, 97 active and 1,111 recovered. The South Zone has reported eight deaths.

Across the province there are 59 people in hospital, six of whom are in the ICU.

On May 11, the province began putting a more detailed chart online for each zone.

The County of Newell has 14 cases, two active and 12 recovered.

In Cypress County, they are reporting 10 cases of COVID-19, two active and eight recovered.

The County of Forty Mile and Municipal District of Taber each have two confirmed cases both listed as recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has two confirmed cases, one recovered and one death.

The City of Lethbridge has 26 cases, nine listed as active and 17 recovered. Lethbridge County has one recorded recovered case.

Read the full May 21 update from the province here.