Alberta COVID-19 hospitalizations lowest since July; 26 deaths added
Alberta now has 622 people in hospital with COVID-19, 19 of whom are receiving care in ICUs.
That is a decrease of 61 hospitalizations and three ICU admissions compared to last week's update.
The last time Alberta's hospitalization numbers were this low was at the end of July, when 605 people were admitted.
Alberta Health data is routinely updated for accuracy and to account for reporting delays. Last week’s hospital numbers were retroactively increased from 683 to 706.
According to the province, 273 of the 706 people in hospital with COVID-19 last week were hospitalized for reasons directly related to the virus, while the other 433 people were admitted for other reasons, but incidentally tested positive. In the ICU, 48 per cent of patients were being treated because of COVID-19.
Alberta’s total number of COVID-19-related deaths went up by 26. Of the new deaths reported, 21 were retroactively added to past weeks, while five belong to this week.
Since its last data update, Alberta Health has counted 435 new COVID-19 cases in 5,180 PCR tests. That is a decrease of 123 cases and 365 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 8.54 per cent.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
On Feb. 13, 2021, 314 Albertans were hospitalized with COVID-19. In 2022, 1,559 patients were in hospital with the virus, while there were 622 people this year.
In 2021, there were 56 people with COVID-19 in intensive care on Feb. 13, compared to last year's 122 and this year's 19.
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, there were 2,103 deaths.
There have been 114 COVID-19-related deaths so far this year, bringing the province's pandemic death toll to 5,536.
The next data update is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 22.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.