By Chris Brown

One new case in city, 339 in province

Hinshaw reminds Albertans not to neglect their mental health

Feb 10, 2021 | 4:13 PM

Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the pandemic has made countless aspects of our lives more difficult than before and reminds all Albertans to take care of their mental health.

“Every Albertan has been impacted in different ways. It’s not surprising that the past year has taken a toll on the mental health and wellbeing of many of us across the province, across the country and around the world,” she said.

She said that in many ways Albertans have each gotten used to parts of the new normal such as frequent hand washing and wearing masks.

“But that doesn’t mean these things don’t continue to impact our mental wellbeing. Isolation, staying distanced from one another, financial hardships, remote learning, teleworking, keeping up with new information and coping with sickness and death impacts all of us,” she said.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Firefighters take win over Police Service in Medicine Hat sledge hockey game

5h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Treblemakers' gives learning musicians courage in Medicine Hat

23h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Diverse personal stories shared at 'Pecha Kucha' in Medicine Hat

Jan 17, 2025

She said mental health can sometimes suffer in silence and it’s important to look after your own health and wellbeing.

“Try not to avoid or suppress anxious thoughts. Instead, be aware of your anxiety and acknowledge when you’re feeling anxious about a situation. Then use a strategy that works for you to address that feeling, whether it be exercise, talking to a friend or your doctor, or making sure you’re getting enough sleep.”

She added don’t wait to reach out if you feel like you need help.

Seventy-one per cent of residents in long-term care and designated supportive living have received both doses of vaccines and the rest will get their second dose in the coming weeks.

There are 15 active cases of COVID-19 in Medicine Hat on Wednesday.

The city now has had 536 total cases – the 15 active, 507 recovered and there have been 14 deaths.

There is one new case in the city in Wednesday’s update and no new recoveries.

Across the province, there are 5,706 active cases, down 125 from Tuesday, and 120,136 recovered cases, up 458.

Alberta’s total number of COVID-19 cases from the start of the pandemic is 127,570.

There are 339 new cases in the province today.

There are now 421 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 77 of which are in ICU, and 1,728 deaths.

The province completed 10,873 tests in the past 24 hours.

The provincial positivity rate is 3.2 per cent.

As of Feb. 8, 129,452 doses of vaccine have been administered in Alberta.

The chief medical officer of health also reiterated the importance of testing.

“I continue to ask all Albertans to stay home and get tested if you experience even minor COVID-19 symptoms or if you were a close contact of someone with COVID-19 Testing is important to be able to understand how the virus is spreading in the province.”

She said 16 new variant cases have been identified in the province, including new cases linked to a school. There are two cases of variant COVID-19 where in-school transmission is likely the source.

Hospitalization and ICU admissions continue to decline, said Hinshaw, but numbers are still five- to seven-times what they were in the spring.

She also reminded Albertans that the only way reopening of the province will be successful is if the protocols in place are followed while restrictions are eased.

On Monday, Hinshaw announced the province has eliminated the colour-coded regional status map and removed the regional classifications of “Enhanced,” “Watch” and “Open.”

Active case numbers and active cases rates remain on the page.

Hinshaw will provide another update on Thursday.

There are 6,078 cases in the South Zone. There are 326 active cases and 5,677 recovered. The death total in the zone is at 75.

An AHS spokesperson told CHAT News on Monday that AHS South Zone currently has 27 COVID-19 positive individuals in hospital. There are two at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, with one of those in the ICU. Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge has 24 inpatients, with nine of those in the ICU. The Pincher Creek Health Centre has one inpatient.

Seven Persons School is on “Alert” status, with two positive cases. One was confirmed on Jan. 17 and one on Jan. 15. Students and staff have been identified as close contacts and placed into quarantine.

The website Support Our Students is tracking instances of cases in schools across the province.

Cypress County has totaled 145 cases – one active case and the rest recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 117 total cases. There no active cases, 115 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The MD of Taber has 332 total cases — four active cases, 322 recovered and there have been six deaths.

Special Areas No. 2 has 40 total cases – one active, 38 recovered and there has been one death.

Brooks has 1,365 total cases — four active and 1,347 are recovered. Brooks has recorded 14 deaths.

The County of Newell has a total of 158 cases — one active case, 155 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The County of Warner has 158 total cases. There is one active case, 155 are recovered cases and there have been two deaths in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 1,843 cases. There are 189 active cases, 1,641 recovered and there have been 13 deaths. Lethbridge County has 520 cases, 11 active cases, 502 recovered and there have been seven deaths.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day Feb. 9, 2021.”

Read the full Feb. 10 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan confirmed 180 new cases of COVID-19 in the Wednesday update.

Saskatchewan has a total of 25,843 cases, 1,968 considered active. There are 23,527 recovered cases and there have been 348 COVID-19 deaths in the province.

Saskatchewan has delivered 45,371 doses of vaccine.