Alberta reports 170 new COVID-19 cases as hospitalizations continue to drop
Alberta reported another 170 cases of COVID-19 Friday as hospitalizations and ICU admissions continue to decline.
The province completed 6,682 tests to raise the positivity rate to 3.9 per cent.
There are 296 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 79 in ICU. Last Friday, there were 379 patients seeking treatment for COVID-19 in hospital including 108 in ICU.
Three more deaths from COVID-19 were reported Friday, raising the provincial total to 2,265 deaths.
More than 3.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Alberta with 67.8 per cent of the population aged 12 and over receiving at least one dose. Currently 16.7 per cent of the population eligible for immunization are fully vaccinated.
The province entered Stage 2 of the reopening plan on Thursday.
- 'Welcome to Stage 2, Alberta': Province moves ahead in reopening plan, 2nd dose delivery ramped up
- Alberta moves to Stage 2 of reopening on June 10: What will change?
- 'We're thrilled': Stage 2 starts Thursday, restaurants and attractions prepare for busy weekend
The threshold to reach Stage 2 requires 60 per cent of Albertans aged 12 or older receiving their first vaccine dose and fewer that 500 hospitalizations.
Under the new restrictions, outdoor gatherings up to 20 people are permitted, gyms and fitness studios can open, and restaurants may resume indoor dining with a maximum of six people per table.
To move to the next stage of reopening, Alberta needs 70 per cent of the population over the age of 12 to receive one dose of vaccine.
In a media availability on Thursday, Health Minister Tyler Shandro said there are approximately 70,000 Albertans booked to receive first doses in the next week.
According to Premier Jason Kenney, the province would need over 100,000 vaccine appointments for first doses to allow Alberta to move to Stage 3 by the end of June or early July.
“Having that first dose target achieved would be the quickest way to be able to move forward into the kinds of activities that we’ve all missed,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health. “We are extremely close.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
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.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.