Alberta COVID-19 hospitalizations fall below 500
Alberta now has 486 people in hospital with COVID-19, 11 of whom are receiving care in ICUs.
That is a decrease of 32 hospitalizations and one ICU admission compared to last week's update.
The last time Alberta's hospitalization numbers were this low was Jan. 3, 2022.
Alberta Health data is routinely updated for accuracy and to account for reporting delays. Last week’s hospital numbers were retroactively increased from 518 to 541.
According to the province, 221 of the 541 people in hospital with COVID-19 last week were hospitalized for reasons directly related to the virus, while the other 320 people were admitted for other reasons, but incidentally tested positive. In the ICU, 46 per cent of patients were being treated because of COVID-19.
Alberta’s total number of COVID-19-related deaths went down by three. Eighteen deaths were retroactively removed while 15 deaths were added. Of the new deaths, four belong to this week.
Since its last data update, Alberta Health has counted 388 new COVID-19 cases in 4,488 PCR tests. That is an increase of 41 cases and a decrease of 77 tests compared to last week's update.
The number of new cases is likely higher because of testing limitations and because the province doesn't count positive results from rapid tests.
The average positivity rate is now at 9.17 per cent.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
On Mar. 13, 2021, 250 Albertans were hospitalized with COVID-19. On the same date In 2022, 1,013 patients were in hospital with the virus.
In 2021, there were 36 people with COVID-19 in intensive care on Mar. 13, compared to last year's 72 and this year's 11.
It is not known how many people in 2020 and 2021 were hospitalized and admitted to the ICU because of the virus versus people who were admitted for other reasons and incidentally tested positive, as that statistic was only made available by Alberta Health as of February 2022.
Alberta had 1,213 COVID-19-related deaths in 2020 and 2,106 in 2021. Last year had the highest number of fatalities, with 2,110.
There have been 190 COVID-19-related deaths so far this year, bringing the province's pandemic death toll to 5,619.
The next data update is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tanks reach Rafah's centre as Israel presses assault despite global scrutiny
Israeli tanks reached the centre of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, witnesses said, three weeks into a ground operation in the southern Gaza city that has sparked global condemnation.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
Tornado touches down west of the Island of Montreal
Emergency services in the town of Rigaud, Que. are investigating after a tornado touched down shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
Mexican government says the arm of a 19th century mummy came off after mishandling by museum staff
Mexico's federal archaeology agency on Monday accused the conservative-governed city of Guanajuato of mistreating one of the country’s famous mummified 19th century bodies.
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.
MPs to decide on Speaker Fergus' invite flub as Conservatives advance effort to oust him
The federal Conservatives have advanced a motion that will force MPs to vote on whether to oust Greg Fergus as House of Commons Speaker, after MPs' deputy adjudicator ruled Monday that the Liberal member's allegedly errant partisan event invite required urgent attention.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
Stars roar back to win Game 3 over Oilers
Jason Robertson's hat-trick goal midway through the third period broke a deadlock and proved to be the eventual winner as the Dallas Stars beat the host Edmonton Oilers 5-3 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final to take a 2-1 series lead.