COVID-19 in Alberta: Hospitalizations continue to decline; 43 new deaths reported
Alberta now has 910 Albertans in hospital with the coronavirus, 33 of whom are receiving care in ICUs.
That is a decrease of 82 hospitalizations and an increase of one ICU admission since last week’s update.
Alberta Health data is routinely updated for accuracy and to account for reporting delays. Last week’s hospital numbers were retroactively increased from 992 to 1,032, while last week’s ICU numbers were retroactively increased from 32 to 43.
According to the province, 424 of the 1,032 people in hospital with COVID-19 last week were hospitalized for reasons directly related to the virus, while the other 608 people were admitted for other reasons, but incidentally tested positive. In the ICU, 58 per cent of patients were being treated because of COVID-19.
Alberta’s total number of COVID-19 related deaths went up by 43. Of the new deaths reported, 31 were retroactively added to past weeks, while 12 belong to this week.
The provincial death toll now sits at 5,351.
Since its last data update, Alberta Health has counted 926 new COVID-19 cases in 7,171 PCR tests. That is a decrease of 119 cases and 638 tests compared to last week's update.
The number of new cases is likely higher because of testing limitations and because the province doesn't count positive results from rapid tests.
The average positivity rate is now at 13.25 per cent.
- Last week's update: COVID-19 in Alberta: Hospitalizations and ICU numbers decline; 46 new deaths
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
On Dec. 19, 2021, 330 Albertans were hospitalized with COVID-19. This year, there are more than double that amount, with 910 patients in hospital with the virus. In 2020, 788 people were hospitalized.
In 2021, there were 63 people in intensive care on Dec. 19, compared to this year's 33 and 2020's 152.
It is not known how many people in 2020 and 2021 were hospitalized and admitted to the ICU because of the virus versus those who were admitted for other reasons and incidentally tested positive, as that statistic was only made available by Alberta Health as of February 2022.
In November, 195 Albertans died from COVID-19 compared to 133 in 2021 and 262 in 2020.
So far this year, 2,033 people have died from COVID-19 compared to 2,104 last year, and 1,214 in 2020.
The next data update is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 28.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From collapsing ecosystems to artificial intelligence running wild, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the coming years.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.