Hospitalizations in Alberta catching up with surging COVID-19 cases: doctor
Alberta's chief medical officer of health says COVID-19 hospitalization rates are rising to levels not seen in the province since mid-October when the health-care system was grappling with the fourth wave.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the surging number of cases driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant are starting to be reflected in hospital admissions.
“It is important to recognize that any COVID-positive admission has an impact on our acute-care capacity,” Hinshaw said at a news conference Tuesday.
“The bottom line is that our acute-care system remains under serious pressure and COVID-19 continues to pose a risk of severe outcomes to many Albertans.”
She said hospitalizations surpassed 1,000 on Sunday for the first time since Oct. 14. On Tuesday, there were 1,089 people in hospital with the infection, including 104 in intensive care.
“Even if we take into account the proportion of these that are admissions for other causes with an incidental COVID infection, the overall burden on the system is large and growing,” Hinshaw said.
A total of 3,279 new COVID-19 cases were reported Tuesday and nine new deaths. Since the pandemic began, 3,412 people have died in Alberta because of the disease.
Hinshaw said Alberta Health Services will be changing the way it reports the number of people admitted to hospital and intensive care with COVID-19.
The agency will report the proportion of people in hospitals because of COVID-19 compared with those who are admitted due to other causes but who still have it, she said.
Since late last week, 51 per cent of new admissions to non-ICU hospital beds were primarily due to COVID-19 infection, while 49 per cent were not the cause of admission. For intensive care units, the percentage of new admissions due to the illness was 74 per cent, with 26 per cent being incidental infections or unclear.
Hinshaw also said that Albertans who are 18 and older who have immunocompromising conditions will be eligible for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose five months after their third one.
She said they can book their fourth dose starting on Thursday.
“This will not only help prevent some breakthrough infections that we've been seeing but also decrease the chance that people with immunocompromising conditions could have severe outcomes from COVID-19,” she said.
Some countries have offered fourth doses to the general population, but Hinshaw said Alberta isn't ready to do so.
“We haven't seen data that would indicate that that fourth dose is necessary at this point in time for average Albertans,” she said.
“As we have always done, we will closely monitor data and determine what is recommended with respect to any additional doses.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.