Alberta reports 1,519 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths
Alberta reported 1,519 new COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths on Tuesday as Tyler Shandro resigned from his position as health minister.
The province has 20,917 active cases and 996 hospitalizations, including 222 ICU admissions.
Alberta Health Services' ICU capacity is at 87 per cent including surge beds, according to Premier Jason Kenney.
The 29 deaths increased Alberta's pandemic death toll to 2,574.
"Some of these individuals were double vaccinated and had pre-existing health conditions that compromised their immune systems, but most were not vaccinated at all," Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said.
THIRD DOSES
More immunocompromised Albertans will be eligible to get a booster shot starting on Friday, the premier announced.
The expansion includes people with Stage 3 or advanced HIV, transplant recipients and patients with chronic kidney disease.
"The data shows that individuals with certain immunocompromising conditions do not develop as robust an immune response from two doses and benefit from a third dose," Hinshaw said.
Booster shots will be available at least eight weeks after the second dose.
Of eligible Albertans, 81.4 per cent have one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 72.8 per cent have two doses.
NEW HEALTH MINISTER
In a cabinet shuffle on Tuesday afternoon, former Labour and Immigration Minister Jason Copping became Alberta's health minister.
Kenney said Shandro offered his resignation and he accepted it, and Shandro will take over Copping's previous portfolio.
Copping told reporters his main three goals are to increase hospital capacity permanently, educate vaccine-hesitant Albertans and prepare the health system to respond to potential future waves.
Alberta health officials will give another COVID-19 update later this week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'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.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
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.