No new COVID-19 cases in Medicine Hat, 332 across Alberta

The total number of COVID-19 cases across the province stands at 21,775. There are 2,836 active cases, up 98 from Thursday, and 18,651 recovered cases, up 234.

There are currently 117 Albertans in hospital, 11 in ICU. There have been 288 deaths, no change from Thursday.

The province conducted 14,155 tests in the past 24 hours.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw said outbreaks in hospitals, mainly in Calgary and Edmonton, is one of the reasons for the climbing number of hospitalizations.

“As our community transmission goes up, so too does the risk of introducing the virus into our acute care and continuing care facilities, where our most vulnerable community members are,” she said. “This is another reminder we all have a role to play in stopping the spread.”

Calgary is now on the “Watch” list, said the chief medical officer of health. There are 685 cases per 100,000 people, a rate of 50.9 per cent.

“We have recently seen several outbreaks in that city linked to social gatherings, and this is yet another reminder that no region is immune from this virus and that one case can quickly lead to many if restrictions are not followed.”

Hinshaw said she is not recommending additional measures for Calgary, but is watching the situation closely.

She also said she remains concerned about the Edmonton Zone, which currently has 54 per cent of the active cases in the province. With about two weeks between actions and outcomes, Hinshaw said she anticipates seeing signs next week whether the voluntary measures introduced for Edmonton last week were successful.

She also urged all Albertans to get their flu shot.

“Last winter almost 8,500 Albertans contracted the flu, and ultimately 41 died,” she said, adding that about one in three Albertans got their flu shot last year. “This was more than in 2018-19, but we can and must do better this year.”

The flu shot will be readily available in participating pharmacies, doctor’s offices and health clinics across the province starting Monday.

Hinshaw said the shot won’t prevent COVID-19, but will reduce the chances of getting sick with the flu and spreading that to others.

“We can’t yet prevent COVID-19 with a vaccine, but we can stop the flu from taxing our health system.”

Hinshaw’s next in-person update will be on Tuesday.

On Friday there are 91 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. There are 22 schools on “Watch,” with five or more cases.

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. Elm Street School and Herald School were added to the list on Oct. 5, and Ecole St. John Paul II has been on it since late August.

There 2,058 cases in the South Zone. There are 202 active cases and 1,830 recovered. There are currently six COVID-19 cases in hospital in the South Zone, none in the ICU. There have been 26 deaths in the zone.

Cypress County has totaled 33 cases – all recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 43 total cases. There are four active cases and the rest are recovered.

The MD of Taber has 44 total cases — all recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has 17 total cases, three active cases and the rest recovered.

Brooks has 1,139 total cases — eight active and 1,122 are recovered. Brooks has recorded nine deaths.

The County of Newell has a total of 35 cases — two active cases, 31 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The County of Warner has 65 total cases. There are three active cases, 61 are recovered cases and there has been one death in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 326 cases. There are 138 active cases, 186 recovered and there have been two deaths. Lethbridge County has 105 cases, 40 active cases and the rest recovered.

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

Read the full oct. 16 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan reported 40 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, one in the South Zones.

Saskatchewan has a total of 2,270 cases, 299 considered active. There are 1,946 recovered cases and there have been 25 COVID-19 deaths in the province.

by Chris Brown

No new COVID-19 cases in Medicine Hat, 332 across Alberta

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