By Chris Brown

94 new cases, about 14,500 tests in 48 hours

First COVID-19 death in Medicine Hat

Jul 2, 2020 | 3:40 PM

Medicine Hat has recorded its first death from COVID-19.

The death of a male in his 80s, who resided in the South Country Village continuing care facility in Medicine Hat, was announced on Thursday bringing the provincial death toll to 155.

According to the map on alberta.ca and as seen above, the city also recorded one new case over the past two days.

Medicine Hat now has 43 total cases — six active, 36 recovered and the one death.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

1h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

7h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

23h ago

The province did not update its COVID-19 numbers on July 1.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw reported that over the past two days, Alberta recorded 94 new cases of COVID-19. Of more than 6,900 tests on June 30, there were 30 new cases. On July 1, 64 cases were confirmed out of close to 7,600 tests performed. There are 44 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, eight of which are in ICU.

She said that “although we may be done with COVID, it is not yet done with us.”

Hinshaw said Albertans must resist thinking the risk is over and begin relaxing too soon or that the virus is only a threat to others.

“COVID-19 is still here. It will be with us all summer and into the fall. And it will almost certainly be here when we ring in the new year.”

Cases continue to be identified in all age groups, and in particular in the 20-39 group.

The province’s chief medical officer of health said we are not powerless against the virus and it is on Albertans to decide what the rest of 2020 will look like.

“Whatever outcome we want to see this year … we have the power to make that a reality,” she said.

The basics that Hinshaw has been repeating almost daily over the past few months — proper hand hygiene, physical distancing, wearing masks when that’s not possible and staying home when ill — remain the best way forward, she said.

There are 542 active cases in the province and 7,505 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19.

The South Zone now has a total of 1,333, an increase of 24 since the last update. There are 49 active cases, 1,273 recovered and 11 deaths. There are currently no hospitalizations in the zone.

Brooks remains at one active case. There have been 1,119 cases confirmed there, 1,109 have recovered and there have been nine deaths.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw will take the next week off from updates. Online numbers will be updated every weekday, she said.

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

Cypress County is showing four active cases and 21 recovered. Those four active cases are new over the past 48 hours.

The County of Newell is showing zero active cases and 20 recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has two confirmed cases both listed as recovered.

The MD of Taber now has six active cases and two recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has no cases on the map. There was previously one recovered case and one death attributed to the region.

The City of Lethbridge has 43 cases, eight listed as active and 35 recovered. Lethbridge County has three cases, all considered recovered.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day July 1, 2020.”