Only two active COVID-19 cases in Medicine Hat

There are currently 64 Albertans in hospital, 12 in ICU. There have been 269 deaths, an increase of two from Wednesday.

The province conducted 14,678 tests in the past 24 hours.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw shared a change to MyHealth Records to get children’s results back to families more quickly and get a written record of negative results, two concerns she heard from parents.

“Effective today, all parents and guardians in Alberta can now access COVID-19 results for their children through MyHealth Records. Once a child is tested, parents will be able to log in and see their children’s results as soon as they are available anytime, day or night,” said Hinshaw.

The information is accessible to parents and guardians of any child under 18 years old. Parents can also print COVID-19 test results and show them to others.

The service is free and only a personal health number and government-issued ID is all that’s required.

The chief medical officer of health once again provided her update remotely after she began to feel ill late last week. She has tested negative for COVID-19.

Hinshaw said that the typical increase in rhinovirus and enterovirus – key players in causing the common cold – symptoms seen at this time of year makes it impossible to tell them apart from mild COVID symptoms without testing.

“That is part of the reason why, despite refocusing our testing on symptomatic Albertans, and those in priority asymptomatic groups, we have not seen our test numbers go down. We are entering cold and flu season and we must all be prepared,” she said.

Hinshaw highlighted the importance of getting a flu shot. Outreach to vulnerable populations will begin as soon as the vaccine is available in communities, no later than Oct. 13, said Hinshaw.

For the rest of the population, the provincial immunization program will begin on Oct. 19.

Immunization for those five and over is encouraged for free at participating pharmacies or physician office. Immunization at public health clinics will be by appointment only and focused on children under five and parents or other household members, those without a provincial health care number and those in communities where there are no other health-care providers.

Hinshaw added a high-dose influenza vaccine for residents of provincially-funded long-term care beds who are 65 and older.

Hinshaw said measures will be in place at all locations to mitigate potential exposure to COVID-19.

“I am strongly urging all Albertans, especially seniors and those who are high risk, to get immunized. Do it for yourself and do it for those around you,” she said. “By keeping our number of influenza cases low, you will also help our health system focus on the COVID response.”

Hinshaw ended by saying she has no plans to suggest the cancellation of Halloween, but said everyone must make it as safe as possible to celebrate. A dedicated Halloween safety page is on the government’s website.

On Thursday there are 50 schools in the province where outbreaks have been declared. Alberta Health’s threshold for declaring an outbreak in school is two cases being in a school while infectious within 14 days.

No local schools are classified as having outbreaks on the provincial website.

The website Support Our Students is tracking instances of cases in schools across the province. The only local school on the list remains Ecole St. John Paul II, which was added in late August.

There 1,828 cases in the South Zone. One case has been reclassified out of the zone, as sometimes happens. There are 32 active cases and 1,771 recovered. There are currently four COVID-19 cases in hospital in the South Zone, two in the ICU, and the zone total remains at 25 deaths.

Cypress County has totaled 33 cases – two active and the rest recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 40 total cases. There are nine active cases and the rest are recovered.

The MD of Taber has 44 total cases — four active cases and the rest recovered.

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

Brooks has 1,132 total cases —1,119 are recovered and four 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 63 total cases. There is one active case, 61 are recovered cases and there has been one death in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 173 cases. There are four active cases, 167 recovered and there have been two deaths. A case has also been reclassified out of Lethbridge. Lethbridge County has 48 cases, three active cases and the rest recovered.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day Sept. 30, 2020.”

Read the full Oct. 1 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, three in the South Zones.

Saskatchewan has a total of 1,927 cases, 144 considered active. There are 1,759 recovered cases and there have been 24 COVID-19 deaths in the province.

by Chris Brown

Only two active COVID-19 cases in Medicine Hat

Our Community