Over 300 cases in Alberta over the weekend, no change in Medicine Hat

The number of active cases province-wide is now 1,430, up 89 from Friday, and the number of recovered cases is 8,774, up 207. The province now has 10,390 total cases.

“As we see in the case numbers, the curve is no longer flat in Alberta,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw. “We all need to assess our own lives for where we are at risk of spreading or contracting the virus. All of us can make changes to our daily routines to prevent the spread of COVID.”

Referencing an earlier description of hers that described the virus is like a wall of water, she said Alberta can tolerate some gradual streams of cases, as long as they stay gradual.

“What we need to prevent is a scenario where the breaches get so large that we become swamped with cases that overwhelm our system. This can happen quickly if we let our guard down,” Hinshaw said.

“COVID is out there waiting for us to become too tired to wash our hands, too distracted to notice whether we are within two metres of someone else, too busy to stay home if we are sick or too polite to suggest we all bring our own food to a gathering.”

She said not taking simple everyday precautions lets everyone down and that it’s in everyone’s control to get case numbers moving in a positive direction and that we can get back to where we were a month ago when the province moved forward with Stage 2 of relaunch when the active case numbers were low.

“Every step we take as individuals to stop the spread is a step in the direction of health and safety of everyone,” the chief medical officer of health said.

She encouraged the wearing of masks, especially when unable to maintain proper physical distance and in public spaces.

Asked whether the economy is being weighted more heavily than public health, Hinshaw said that health is about more than just avoidance of the virus and that a more assertive approach is being developed for businesses to remain open and keep everyone safe.

A new online assessment tool has been created by Alberta Health for those who are at higher risk of severe outcomes. The tool will help people identify their level of risk for severe outcomes and guide protection decisions.

The chief medical officer of health also announced My Health Records, a secure online portal for Albertans to see their health records and get quicker test results.

She said Alberta Health is working hard to shorten the time between testing and results and connect those who have the virus or are contacts of cases to the public health teams.

The 294 cases reported today is down from the 368 reported in the three-day period last weekend.

There are 88 Albertans currently in hospital due to COVID-19, 17 of which are in ICU. Hinshaw announced eight more deaths, bringing the total to 186.

The province conducted 27,893 tests in the past 72 hours.

The South Zone has a total of 1,599 cases —1,442 recovered, an increase of 28, and 142 active, an increase of one.

There are 13 people in the zone in hospital, three of which are in ICU and there have been 16 deaths, an increase of two.

Cypress County has totalled 31 cases – one new active case and 30 recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 10 total cases, three active cases and seven recovered.

The MD of Taber has 33 total cases — 17 active and 16 recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has 10 active cases and two recovered.

Brooks has two new cases, the first in more than a week. The city now has 1,123 total cases —1,111 are recovered and three are active. Brooks has recorded nine deaths. The County of Newell is showing a total of 23 cases — three active and 20 recovered.

The County of Warner has 53 total cases. There are now six active cases and 46 recovered. There has been one death in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 102 cases. Of those, 37 are listed as active and 63 recovered. The city recorded its first two COVID-19 deaths over the weekend. Lethbridge County has 25 cases, 10 active cases and 15 recovered.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day July 26, 2020.”

Read the full July 27 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan reported 31 new cases of COVID-19 today. Of those, just nine are in the South Zone. Late last week the majority of cases – 24 out of 27 on Friday – were in the South Zone.

According to the government, 21 of the cases reported Friday were on colonies in the southwest and west central regions. Today’s update from the Saskatchewan government indicates a slowing number of cases on colonies in the south and west central regions, but also a spread around the province. The update reports that 22 of the 31 cases are from colonies in the south, central, Saskatoon and north regions.

Saskatchewan has a total of 1,209 cases, 307 considered active. There are 886 recovered cases and there have 16 COVID-19 deaths in the province.

by Chris Brown

Over 300 cases in Alberta over the weekend, no change in Medicine Hat

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