Alberta reports 770 COVID-19 cases, gradual return of surgeries and procedures begins
Alberta reported 770 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday as pressure on the health care system starts to ease.
According to Alberta Health, the provincial positivity rate is approximately 6.5 per cent, after about 11,800 tests were completed. There are currently 10,434 active cases of COVID-19.
There 912 Albertans in hospital receiving treatment for COVID-19, including 201 in ICUs.
“We continue to see these numbers declining, but it's important to remember that this takes time and this trend could reverse quickly if we are not careful,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw.
Hinshaw said the majority of Albertans who end up in hospital, need to be admitted to the ICU, or die from the disease continue to be unvaccinated.
Across the province, there are active alerts or outbreaks at 288 schools. Hinshaw said that at four of those schools, there were more than 10 cases of COVID-19 reported after individuals with COVID-19 while infectious attended.
Eight more deaths were reported Thursday, raising the provincial total to 3,014. The deaths ranged in age from people in their 30s to over 80.
More than 6.4 million vaccine doses have been administered as of Wednesday.
SOME SURGERIES TO RESUME
Alberta Health Services is gradually beginning to stand down some surge ICU spaces and restart non-COVID-related surgeries and procedures.
According to the provincial health authority, twenty-six surge ICU spaces will be taken out of service and staff responsible for them will be redeployed to allow for the resumption of medical procedures.
In a statement to CTV News, Alberta Health Services (AHS) said it continues to do all it can to ensure there is enough ICU capacity.
“With pressure easing slightly on our ICUs, we are reducing the available surge beds so that we can redeploy staff back to caring for non-COVID patients who need surgeries and procedures completed,” said Kerry Williamson, AHS spokesperson.
“We will ensure that we maintain ICU capacity above daily demand to a planned maximum of 380 beds as long as staff and physician availability allows,” Williamson added. “(We) will readjust our plans as needed if COVID cases rise again.”
As of 1:45 p.m. Thursday, AHS said there was a total of 350 adult ICU beds, including 177 additional surge spaces. Of those, 81 per cent, or 238 are occupied.
The Edmonton zone, with the most ICU beds and surge spaces in the province, is operating at 90 per cent of current ICU capacity levels.
The Central zone is at 83 per cent, while the South zone is at 75 per cent. The North and Calgary zones are operating at 79 and 73 per cent, respectively.
- Families waiting for life-changing procedures at Stollery left in limbo after surgery cancellations
- Woman says mother has been waiting 3 years for knee replacement as surgeries continue to get postponed
HINSHAW TO HOST TOWN HALL ABOUT VACCINE SAFETY
The chief medical officer of health said despite misinformation circulating on social media, no medical studies have shown the vaccines impact the fertility of men or women.
“There is no evidence suggesting that these vaccines impact fertility in any way,” Hinshaw said.
Additionally, Hinshaw urged those who are pregnant or nursing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
For those who are pregnant, Hinshaw said that the variants of concern have increased the risk of severe outcomes.
“Vaccine safety is a critical issue in pregnancy and data from thousands of pregnant women who have received vaccines has not shown any increased risk in pregnancy.”
- Sister of pregnant Alberta woman who died of COVID-19 urges others to get vaccinated
- Pregnant Albertans urged to get vaccinated as ICU numbers spike
Hinshaw said that many Albertans still have questions about vaccine safety. To help answer those, the province will host a telephone town hall where the top doctor will be joined by other physicians.
The registration link to attend the free event will be shared on Hinshaw’s social media profiles.
“It’s free for anyone who wants to call in and ask a question about this issue.”
'STRONG' THIRD DOSE UPTAKE
The top doctor in Alberta said that more than 231,000 third booster doses of vaccine had been administered to date.
“It’s been wonderful to see a strong uptake from Albertans eligible for third doses over the last few weeks,” she said.
Currently, seniors aged 75 years or older; First Nations, Metis, or Inuit individuals aged 65 years or older; and those with severely immunocompromising conditions are eligible to receive a booster dose.
Boosters can be administered six months after receiving a second dose, except for those who are immunocompromised who can receive their third shot after eight weeks from getting their second dose.
“The third dose is a booster to strengthen and prolong the protection from the primary series of two doses,” Hinshaw explained.
“While we offer boosters to these groups, we also know there are still people who don’t have the protection that the first and second doses of the vaccine offer,” she added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'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.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
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.
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.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'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.