COVID-19 cases top 1,000 in Alberta, five more deaths announced

The high number of cases is attributable to a large number of test results, more than 4,000 and brings the total number of tests to more than 60,000. Kenney says the rate, about 13,600 per million is significantly higher than any other province and the vast majority of countries around the world.

“The total number of infections and deaths will undoubtedly continue to rise. But so will the number of recovered cases, which today stands at 196 here in Alberta,” says Kenney. “If we can continue to keep the rates of infection and death in the context of active cases at these relatively low levels, we will know that the counter measures we are are taking are working and we will get through the pandemic with proportionally lower human costs that the rest of the world.”

Kenney says the point where data can inform credible modelling is available is coming near. This will bring more clarity for potential paths of the spread. More details will be available next week, the premier says.

“I can assure Albertans today however that the modelling indicates that we have the health-care equipment, personnel and supplies needed to cope with anticipated hospitalizations, including in intensive care units, and including the usage of ventilators,” Kenney says.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, says 137 cases are suspected to be community transmission.

Of the five deaths, Hinshaw said one was that of a female in her 20s in Edmonton. It is not clear at this time whether she had underlying health conditions. The other four deaths are at the McKenzie Towne facility in Calgary.

Hinshaw responded to questions she’s heard regarding allowing the spread of the virus among young and healthy groups to increase the population’s immunity over time.

“Some people who are young and healthy will go on to have severe disease and even die.”

“I completely understand this question, but the problem is that we don’t know who will have a severe case of this disease,” she said. “Some people who are young and healthy will go on to have severe disease and even die.”

“So until we have more information about who may be at the greatest risk, and more evidence about treatments, the best way to prevent severe illness is for all of us to perform physical distancing, to stay home when possible, to avoid non-essential activities. To limit further deaths we must all follow public health orders.”

Hinshaw gave more details on the shift in testing that happened in recent days to better understand the spread. Officials stopped testing returning travellers showing mild symptoms and turned their focus to at-risk populations and those at highest risk of local exposure such as health-care workers.

She said that looking at the graph of confirmed cases on alberta.ca doesn’t give the full story.

“It may appear we are seeing a spike in the number of people infected in the last few days. What we actually seeing is the excellent work of lab services to work through a backlog of swabs that were waiting to be tested.”

Hinshaw said they are still seeing new cases but the large sudden increase represents the date the lab completed the test, not the date of infection. There doesn’t seem to be a rapid rise in local transmission at this moment, she said.

Hishaw also said everyone should expect to be dealing with this new normal for several months and announced an additional preventive measure being put in place at hospitals.

“With few exceptions, patients in hospital will no longer be able to have any visitors in person,” she said. Please plan to support loved ones in hospital with virtual visits instead.”

The premier praised the province’s pandemic response planning counter measures, the skill and effort of Alberta’s frontline health-care workers and the co-operation of the vast majority of Albertans doing their part to contain the spread of the virus.

Kenney announced the launch of the Bits and Pieces program, calling on manufacturers and those who produce goods that could be of use to fight the pandemic to offer they’re help. The program was in a preliminary phase last week and about 1,000 offers from businesses and individuals have already been received.

“Show us the kind of Alberta spirit in innovation in production that we can generate to help fight the pandemic,” he said.

The full April 3 update from the province can be found here

by Chris Brown

COVID-19 cases top 1,000 in Alberta, five more deaths announced

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