By Chris Brown

619 new cases in Alberta over long weeke

One new COVID-19 case in Medicine Hat, AHS confirms positive test in hospital staff member

Sep 8, 2020 | 3:42 PM

Medicine Hat has one new case of COVID-19, bringing the total to 72. There are three active cases, 67 recovered and there have been two deaths.

Alberta Health Services has confirmed to CHAT News a positive test in a staff member at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.

In a statement, AHS says “There are no staffing challenges at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital after one staff member was confirmed positive with COVID-19 and two are isolating after potential exposure at work. There is no outbreak at the facility, nor is there an increased risk to staff, physicians or patients seeking care at this time. As soon as the potential exposure was identified, immediate action was taken to ensure those impacted followed appropriate isolation precautions. The site is working closely with the Zone Medical Officers of Health, Workplace Health and Safety, and Infection Prevention and Control.”

Dr. Deena Hinshaw confirmed another 619 cases since Friday’s update — 154 on Friday, 171 on Saturday, 137 on Sunday and 157 on Monday.

There are a total of 15,093 cases in Alberta over the course of the pandemic.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

Dec 14, 2024

IN THE COMMUNITY

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

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

The province now has 1,692 active cases, up 259 from Friday, and 13,154 recovered cases, up 355. The number of active cases is the highest since May 9.

Hinshaw said she is concerned about the continued rise in cases.

“Our focus continues to be on limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the community and responding quickly to outbreaks when they occur,” she said. “However, higher case numbers and more outbreaks can strain our frontline teams.”

The province’s chief medical officer oh health addressed the number of cases identified in schools over the weekend, saying it is not unexpected.

“In each case, AHS worked quickly with school officials to identify contacts and ensure anyone at risk is isolated. This quick action is crucial to keeping schools safe in the days and weeks ahead,” Hinshaw said.

She acknowledged that being told you’ve tested positive or were a close contact of one can be upsetting to children and that it’s important to talk to children about what that means and what will come next.

“If your child is a close contact, they will need to isolate for 14 days. Testing can be arranged, though they will need to stay home for the full 14 days even if they test negative,” Hinshaw said, adding she understands the frustration of kids having to stay home for two weeks so soon into the school year, but said the situations must be approached cautiously. “Anyone exposed to COVID-19 could become ill at any point in the next two weeks and a single negative test does not assure safety.”

She said as more cases are encountered in schools, the approach to assessing close contacts will be continuously evaluated.

“At this point, all students in a classroom are considered close contacts if a classmate attended while infectious,” she said.

For context, Hinshaw said about 2,400 schools in the province have “had no disruption at school.”

She says AHS is taking each case extremely seriously, but “that there are no risk-free options with COVID and that we must support every aspect of our children’s health.”

Hinshaw noted the concerning issues of a rising number of new cases that are close contacts of known cases and that those showing mild symptoms are not self-isolating.

She also said a website is being worked on that will provide information on school alerts (where there are two or more cases) and school outbreaks (five or more).

There are currently 45 Albertans in hospital, nine in ICU. There are 247 deaths, up five from Friday.

The province conducted 47,406 tests in the past 96 hours — 11,386 on Friday, 11,368 on Saturday, 12,091 on Sunday and 12,561 on Monday.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw will provide her next update on Wednesday.

In the South Zone, there are 1,766 total cases. There are 38 active cases and 1,703 recovered. There are currently one COVID-19 case in hospital in the South Zone and the zone remains at 25 deaths.

Cypress County has totaled 31 cases – all recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 24 total cases, three active cases and the rest recovered.

The MD of Taber has 39 total cases — all recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has 13 total cases, all of which are recovered.

Brooks has 1,129 total cases —1,117 are recovered and three are active. Brooks has recorded nine deaths.

The County of Newell has a total of 32 cases — 30 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The County of Warner has 61 total cases. Of those, two are active, 58 are recovered cases and there has been one death in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 162 cases. There are 17 active cases, 143 recovered and there have been two deaths. Lethbridge County has 38 cases, eight active cases and the rest recovered.

Read the full Sept. 8 update from the province here.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day Sept. 7, 2020.”

Saskatchewan has reported 31 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, seven in the South Zones.

Saskatchewan has a total of 1,669 cases, 58 considered active. There are 1,587 recovered cases and there have been 24 COVID-19 deaths in the province.