New COVID-19 cases top 100, none in Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat remains at 51 cases, and one more of those has recovered. The city now has five active cases, 45 recovered ones and one death.

Cypress County remains at one active case of the 30 total cases recorded there.

Hinshaw said the rise in new cases is concerning, and she’s particularly concerned about the number of cases that are from an unknown source.

She said one of the most significant areas of risk continues to be social gatherings and gatherings where people are not observing physical distancing.

“I want to emphasize that the numbers that we’re seeing today is a reflection of what transmission was happening about one to two weeks ago and so the activities that we’re seeing today will result in cases in another one to two weeks,” she said mentioning activity seen on beaches in Alberta last weekend.

“Our success in the future is in all of our hands.”

Across the province, there are now 807 active cases, up 103 from Wednesday, and 8,142 recovered cases, up 15. There have been a total of 9,114 cases since the start of the pandemic.

There are currently 69 Albertans in hospital due to COVID-19, eight of which are in the ICU. Hinshaw announced two more deaths, bringing the total to 165.

There were 8,217 tests completed in the past 24 hours.

The South Zone has a total of 1,464 cases —1,361 recovered and 90 active. There are four people in the zone in hospital, two of which are in ICU, and there have been 13 deaths.

Hinshaw said the pandemic has been particularly hard on people in continuing care facilities and their families, and that changes are being made

As of July 23, said the chief medical officer of health, the province will be shifting from a restricted access to a safe access approach.

“We believe this will help people remain socially and emotionally connected while still protecting those who are most at risk of severe outcomes,” she said.

Under the safe access approach “is a requirement that each facility develop a local visitor policy for their site based on consultations with residents, families and staff,” Hinshaw.

Family and friends will be recognized as part of the care team, not just social visitors, for residents that live in congregate care facilities.

“Each resident can designate two support people who will be able to visit indoors for as long and as often as they wish, as long as they coordinate with the facility,” said Hinshaw.

Depending on the resident’s health outdoor visits will be allowed with up to four other visitors and no longer requires the presence of a designated support worker.

New guidance has also been developed for residents hugging and holding hands with visitors.

Hinshaw said anyone visiting a loved one should check out the safe visiting practices online and the safety measures specific to the facility you are planning to visit.

The County of Forty Mile has three active cases and five recovered.

The MD of Taber has 17 total cases, seven active and 10 recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has three active cases.

There have been 1,121 total cases in Brooks —1,109 are recovered and three active. Brooks has recorded nine deaths. The County of Newell is showing two active case and 20 recovered.

The County of Warner remains at 45 total cases — four active cases and 40 recovered. There has been one death in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 70 cases. Of those, 24 are listed as active and 46 recovered. Lethbridge County has 16 cases, nine active cases and seven recovered.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day July 15, 2020.”

Read the full July 16 update from the province here.

by Chris Brown

New COVID-19 cases top 100, none in Medicine Hat

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