Jump in cases as Stage 2 nears
‘Thank you to all Albertans for getting tested, even if you did not have symptoms’
Alberta reported 47 new COVID -19 cases Wednesday, the highest single-day jump in more than three weeks.
With novel coronavirus infection numbers creeping up, Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said that while many Albertans are excited for the next stage of the province’s economic relaunch, others may feel trepidation.
“I know that many more Albertans are looking forward to more activities,” said Hinshaw. “I know many are excited that we are now able to safely reopen recreation centres, libraries and theatres, participate in arts and sports activities, and attend some cultural events.
“I also know that many other Albertans
are feeling anxious about this reopening. It is important to remember that both responses are natural and valid.”
Alberta announced Tuesday that Stage 2 of its relaunch from novel coronavirus restrictions would begin Friday, a full week earlier than previously planned.
The next stage of relaunch — which will see recreation centres, libraries and theatres allowed to open, among other businesses — comes alongside an uptick in new daily COVID-19 case numbers.
The 47 new cases of the virus in Alberta on Wednesday are the highest since May 17, but they continue a trend of climbing infections. From Saturday through Tuesday, Alberta averaged about 33 new cases each day. The previous week saw four consecutive days in which fewer than 20 new
COVID-19 cases were reported.
The new cases were the result of more than 6,500 tests, meaning about 0.7 per cent of tests returned positive for COVID-19.
“We have now completed more than 310,000 tests,” Hinshaw said. “Thank you to all Albertans for getting tested, even if you did not have symptoms.”
A total of 7,276 cases have been detected in Alberta. As of Wednesday, 371 of those cases remain active, representing about five per cent of the total cases. As well, 6,754 Albertans have now officially recovered from the coronavirus.
Alberta’s death toll from COVID-19 remains at 151 after no new deaths were reported Wednesday. Hinshaw reported that there were 42 Albertans in hospital with COVID -19 Wednesday, six of whom were in intensive-care units, representing a slight decrease in hospitalizations from Tuesday.
Hinshaw also said a new COVID -19 outbreak at the Alberta
Hospital in Edmonton was identified late Tuesday. The psychiatric hospital has four cases in staff members and zero in patients.
Also Wednesday, Alberta Education Minister Adriana Lagrange said that children would most likely be back learning in classrooms when students go back to school this September.
“Our goal is to get us back to normal learning as soon as possible,” Lagrange said. “We are targeting a return to new-normal operations with some health measures in place.”
Lagrange said there are three possible scenarios for the return to school: students would return to “near-normal” in-person schooling with some health restrictions; a partial return to in-person classes would resume; or students would continue with at-home learning.
She said a final decision on which scenario will be followed will be made by Aug. 1.