By Chris Brown

479 new cases in province

Medicine Hat staying in single digits for active COVID-19 cases

Mar 17, 2021 | 4:34 PM

Alberta’s top doctor says she and decision-makers in cabinet are closely watching other jurisdictions as they consider when to move to the next step of the province’s Path Forward plan.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw says “we are in this very critical time where the variant is rising and we don’t yet have enough vaccine on board to protect those who are most vulnerable.”

When Alberta moved fully into Step 2 of the Path Forward, it was said a decision on Step 3 would come no earlier than March 22.

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The province is moving forward with Phase 2A of the vaccine rollout, despite a delay in some Moderna vaccines getting into Alberta.

Beginning March 18 at 8 a.m. Albertans born in 1952-54 will become eligible to book appointments, as will First Nations, Metis and Inuit people born from 1967-69. Pharmacies continue to take bookings for Albertans born in 1956 and earlier.

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

The city now has had 568 total cases – the nine active, 542 recovered and there have been 17 deaths.

There is one new case in the city today and one new recovery.

Across the province, there are 4,918 active cases, up 142 from Tuesday, and 132,748 recovered cases, up 333.

Alberta’s total cases from the start of the pandemic is 139,622.

There have been 1,097 variant cases ID’d in the province, 50 new today. There are 25 in the South Zone.

There are 479 total new cases in the province today.

There are now 262 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 44 of which are in ICU, and 1,956 deaths.

The province completed 10,827 tests in the past 24 hours.

The positivity rate is about 4.7 per cent.

Alberta has delivered 397,492 doses of vaccine.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Hinshaw asked anyone planning to celebrate to respect and follow the restrictions in place.

“Please remember that the staff in these businesses did no make the rules and they are enforcing them to keep all patrons and workers safe. They deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.”

With spring break on the horizon, Hinshaw says she strongly recommends against inter-provincial travel and that any internal travel be done with just with your household cohort or an individual with their two close contacts.

She said staying in someone else’s house is still against the rules and is an activity that “we see causing a high risk of spread.”

Staying relatively close to home is recommended by Hinshaw.

“We are so close to getting through this. With the provincial vaccination program that will see every adult Albertan that wants to be vaccinated receive their first dose by the end of June and second dose by late summer, we are nearing a safe return to a more normal way of life,” Hinshaw said. “With widespread immunization by fall the risk of gathering with our loved ones for a family dinner or holiday celebration will drop dramatically.”

“That means that Zoom birthdays and Facetime Christmases can be replaced by gathering in person. Before we know it virtual gatherings celebrations and will just be a memory of how we adapted and found ways to connect with one another during the pandemic in order to keep our loved ones and communities safe.”

Hinshaw’s next update will be on Thursday.

An outbreak is listed on the provincial website at the Valleyview long-term care facility in Medicine Hat. The outbreak was opened on Feb. 12. It’s the only local outbreak currently listed.

There are 7,237 cases in the South Zone. There are 635 active cases and 6,501 recovered. The death total in the zone is at 101.

An AHS spokesperson told CHAT News on Monday that AHS South Zone currently has 32 COVID-19 positive individuals in hospital. There are 25 at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, with four of those in the ICU. Medicine Hat Regional Hospital has three inpatients, with none in the ICU. The Cardston Health Centre has four inpatients.

There are no local schools on either “Alert” or “Outbreak” status on the provincial reporting site.

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

Cypress County has totaled 146 cases – one active case and the rest recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 119 total cases. There is one active case, 115 recovered and there have been three deaths.

The MD of Taber has 344 total cases — five active cases, 333 recovered and there have been six deaths.

Special Areas No. 2 has 55 total cases – 15 active cases, 39 recovered and there has been one death.

Brooks has 1,365 total cases — two active cases and 1,349 are recovered. Brooks has recorded 14 deaths.

The County of Newell has a total of 160 cases — no active cases, 158 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The County of Warner has 176 total cases. There are 14 active cases, 159 are recovered cases and there have been three deaths in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 2,656 cases. There are 469 active cases, 2,160 recovered and there have been 27 deaths. Lethbridge County has 564 cases, 16 active cases, 541 recovered and there have been seven deaths.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day March 16, 2021.”

Read the full March 17 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan has a total of 30,970 cases, 1,264 considered active. There are 29,296 recovered cases and there have been 410 COVID-19 deaths in the province.

Saskatchewan has delivered 112,764 doses of vaccine.