COVID-19 in Alberta: Hospitalizations remain above 1,000 while ICU admissions rise; 39 new deaths

Alberta now has 1,077 Albertans in hospital with the coronavirus, 46 of whom are receiving care in ICUs.
That is a decrease of 30 hospitalizations based off of last week’s update. The number of ICU admissions has increased by six.
Alberta Health data is routinely updated for accuracy and to account for reporting delays, meaning last week’s hospital numbers were retroactively increased from 1,107 to 1,186.
According to the province, 478 of the 1,186 people in hospital with COVID-19 last week were hospitalized for reasons directly related to the disease, while the other 708 people were admitted for other reasons, but incidentally tested positive. In the ICU, 50 per cent of patients were being treated because of the virus.
Alberta’s total number of COVID-19 related deaths went up by 39. Of the new deaths reported, 25 were retroactively added to past weeks, while 14 belong to this week.
The provincial death toll now sits at 5,216.
Alberta Health counted 1,314 new COVID-19 cases in 9,935 PCR tests. That is a decrease of 42 cases and 366 tests compared to last week.
The number of new cases is likely much higher because of testing limitations and because the province doesn't count positive results from rapid tests.
The average positivity rate is now at 13.75 per cent.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
On Nov. 28, 2021, there were 442 Albertans hospitalized with COVID-19. This year, there are more than double that amount, with 1,077 patients in hospital with the virus.
The wave that started in August 2021 and steadily grew throughout the fall reached its peak on Sep. 27 with 1,130 people in hospital and began to descend shortly thereafter. Alberta reached the same amount of hospitalizations by Oct. 23 of this year, hitting a peak of 1,201 on Nov. 14.
Hospitalizations have remained above 1,000 since Sept. 25.
In 2021, there were 71 people in intensive care on Nov. 28, compared to this year's 46 and 94 in 2020.
Alberta’s fall wave in 2021 saw the highest number of patients requiring intensive care in the entirety of the pandemic, with 257 people in the ICU with COVID-19 at its peak on Sept. 28.
The next data update is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky
The massive white orb drifting across U.S. airspace has triggered a diplomatic maelstrom and is blowing up on social media. A look at what's known about the balloon crossing the U.S. and what isn't.

Dozens of soldiers freed in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap
Dozens of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war have returned home following a prisoner swap, officials on both sides said Saturday.
Marit Stiles set to officially take over as Ontario NDP leader
Marit Stiles is expected to be confirmed as the new leader of the Ontario NDP today.
W5 Investigates | Daniel Jolivet insists he's not a murderer and says he has proof
Convicted murderer Daniel Jolivet, in prison for the past 30 years, has maintained his innocence since the day he was arrested. W5 reviews the evidence he painstakingly assembled while behind bars. W5's documentary 'Buried Evidence' airs Saturday at 7 p.m. on CTV.
Poor oral health could affect the brain later in life: early study
An early study has shown keeping your gums and teeth healthy may have added benefits for your brain health.
Oldest preserved vertebrate brain found in 319-million-year-old fish fossil
The oldest preserved vertebrate brain has been found in a 319-million-year-old fossilized fish skull that was removed from an English coal mine over a century ago.
In Tyre Nichols' neighbourhood, Black residents fear police
In a terrible way, the death of Tyre Nichols brings vindication to members of the Black community in Memphis who live in terror of police.
One in four Canadian cancer patients still experiencing cancelled appointments: survey
In the field of cancer treatment, nothing is more important than diagnosing and treating the problem as quickly as possible — but according to new survey data, about one in four Canadian cancer patients report that they are still experiencing cancelled or postponed appointments.
50-car train derailment causes big fire, evacuations in Ohio
A train derailment and resulting large fire prompted an evacuation order and a declaration of a state of emergency in an Ohio village near the Pennsylvania state line on Friday night, covering the area in billows of smoke lit orange by the flames below.