Province reports 1,136 new infections, 679 variant cases
390 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 — 90 in intensive care
Hospitalizations from COVID-19 continue to rise in Alberta as the province reported 679 new cases of variants of concern on Monday.
There are 390 people in hospital with the virus, with 90 of those in intensive care. Alberta added 1,136 new infections, bringing the total number of active cases to 14,849. The more infectious variants of concern make up 51.3 per cent of all active cases, or 7,620. Five more deaths Monday raise the death toll to 2,018.
The dominant variant strain in Alberta is B.1.1.7, first identified in the United Kingdom, with 11,320 cases. The province also has 102 cases of the Brazilian variant and 27 cases of the South African variant. Calgary Zone has the majority of cases with 5,093 followed by Edmonton Zone with 3,270.
The province completed more than 12,200 tests on Sunday, resulting in a positivity rate of 9.10 per cent. Alberta's bed capacity for COVID -19 patients is currently at 86 per cent.
Alberta Health Services spokesman Kerry Williamson in an email said the province has adequate hospital capacity with the ability to increase it as needed.
Last week, Alberta reverted back to Step 1 of its public health restrictions framework in order to curb the growing spread of the virus. Returning to Step 1 means capacity limits for retail including shopping malls has been lowered to 15 per cent from 25 per cent of fire code capacity. There are no changes to personal wellness services such as hair salons, nail salons and tattoo and piercing parlours.
For adult fitness, one-on-one training with a trainer or instructor is still permitted while drop-in or unsupervised individual fitness and indoor group fitness activities is not allowed.
For children's sport and performance lessons, practices and conditioning can continue with restrictions. Only one youth group is able to occupy an arena, field or pool at a time.
Alberta's chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw tweeted Monday that public health measures continue to be the best defence against the virus until enough vaccines are available to immunize every Albertan who wants to be. She encouraged people to limit in-person interactions and follow all other restrictions.
Hinshaw's next live update is scheduled for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Edmonton Public Schools reported on Monday single cases at Bannerman, Edmonton Christian High School, Learning Store on Whyte, Esther Starkman, Dr. Margaret-ann Armour, Evansdale, W.P. Wagner, Institutional Services, Hilwie Hamdon, Florence Hallock, Belmead and Millwoods Christian School. Two cases were reported at Dr. Lila Fahlman, Donald R. Getty and Brightview.
Edmonton Catholic Schools reported single cases at St. Teresa of Calcutta, Archbishop Joseph Macneil, St. Maria Goretti, Bishop David Motiuk, Archbishop Macdonald, Grandin, Divine Mercy, Cardinal Collins Clareview, St. John XXIII, Frere Antoine, J.H. Picard, St. Maria Goretti and St. Timothy. Two cases were reported at Corpus Christi and St. Brendan.