Active cases in Brooks dip below 10, no new cases reported there or in Medicine Hat

Brooks now has just eight active cases and 1,080 recovered cases. The city has recorded 1,096 cases in total and there have been eight deaths.

Medicine Hat remains at 41 cases, seven active and 34 recovered.

Cypress County recorded each of the four new cases in the South Zone. The county now has 18 cases, seven active and 11 recovered.

There were no new deaths reported by the chief medical officer of health, who said there are 53 Albertans currently in hospital, six of whom are in the ICU.

Hinshaw said health officials are monitoring a spike in active cases in the Edmonton Zone. She said many of them can be traced back to two family gatherings, and commended those involved for getting tested quickly. She added that made it easier for the spread to be contained.

“Outbreaks such as this one linked to social gatherings are not completely unexpected now that our gathering restrictions have been relaxed,” she said, Hinshaw added outdoor gatherings come with a lower risk than indoor gatherings and urged people to continue to follow all public health recommendations.

It being Seniors’ Week in Alberta, Hinshaw also spoke about how vulnerable the eldery are for severe outcomes from COVID-19. Of the 143 deaths from COVID-19 in Alberta, 138 have been age 60 or over. She Albertans who are helping seniors feel connected during the pandemic.

Hinshaw said things will get easier for everyone as we move forward, but that the new normal is not the same as the old.

“We must remain committed to supporting each other both to stay safe and to stay connected,” she said.

Hinshaw has been encouraged by low numbers in the province during Stage 1 of the relaunch but is concerned some have started to leave the public health guidelines behind and that balance will be important.

“Balance of being able to have the protections form COVID that we need and also being able to have the interactions, the employment and the opening of society that will support all aspects of health.”

Hinshaw also urged caution for people attending rallies or dmonstrations to be safe and follow the public health guidelines, including as many people as possible wearing facemasks.

Hinshaw will provide her next in-person update on Wednesday. The province will update the statistics online Tuesday.

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

The County of Newell has 15 cases, one active and 14 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 27 cases, three listed as active and 24 recovered. Lethbridge County has one recorded recovered case.

Read the full June 1 update from the province here.

by Chris Brown

Active cases in Brooks dip below 10, no new cases reported there or in Medicine Hat

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