Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Monday that 34 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Alberta in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to 400.
Of the current active cases, 309 are in the Calgary zone, 44 are in the Edmonton zone, 28 are in the South zone, 17 are in the North zone and two are in an unknown zone.
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health said 6,501 people have now recovered from the virus.
As of Monday, there were 53 people in hospital with COVID-19, six of whom were in intensive care units.
Hinshaw said no new deaths have been reported.
On Sunday, Alberta announced 18 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths.
However, she said there has been an increase in the number of cases in the Edmonton zone. The uptick is connected to two private family gatherings, Hinshaw said. At least 10 cases of COVID-19 have been identified from these events but investigations and testing are still taking place.
She said this type of increase in cases is not unexpected as the restrictions on mass gatherings are eased.
“We have the ability to prevent such cases by continuing to follow public health measures when gathering. You must still keep two metres apart from anyone outside your household or cohort family.
“I would again urge you to not share food or drinks with people outside your household or cohort family, as this greatly increases the risk of infection by passing objects such as containers or serving spoons from person to person.”
Hinshaw recommends asking people to bring their own food and drink and to keep gatherings outside, where the risk of transmission is lower.
“Finally, like this group did, it is critical to go for testing with even minor symptoms that could be related to COVID-19. And if anyone is feeling ill, do not attend a group gathering.”
“It’s in our hands to keep those numbers running stable and not increasing.”
Last week, the province expanded testing eligibility to anyone in Alberta, regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms.
“Expanded testing will provide data to help trace the spread of the virus so public health officials can identify steps to limit the spread and determine how well public health measures are working,” Alberta Health said in a news release. “This evidence informs planning for the next stage of Alberta’s relaunch strategy.”
Hinshaw said so far, Phase 1 of the relaunch has gone well and COVID-19 numbers have remained low.
“On the whole, Albertans have done well,” she said.
“I believe initially, people may have been a little cautious, but as our numbers remained low, I wonder if there’s a bit of a feeling that we can leave the restrictions behind us and not worry about COVID anymore.”
“I wonder a bit about the recent uptick in numbers… a little bit of an uptick.
“I wonder if, because of our low numbers, we’re in some ways a victim of our own success. I want to remind people that COVID will be with us for months to come.
“The new normal is not like the old. We have to keep protecting each other.”
Alberta’s top doctor stressed it’s about finding balance – keeping all aspects of health in mind: social, financial, connection – but also mitigating the risk of the virus.
Hinshaw said there’s a risk of transmission at any event where people are gathered, whether that be a protest, a family event or a busy park.
She said public health orders like physical distancing will have to be in place until there’s a vaccine.
“Unfortunately the only protection we have against COVID right now are the measures we take to prevent spread from one person to another. Depending on the context, the most important measures are things like having people who have any kind of symptoms, who aren’t feeling well, having them stay home, get tested and stay away from others, if they have COVID, until they’re no longer infectious. That is absolutely a foundation.
“There’s also the measures: if we can’t keep distance from each other, if we’re all feeling well and out in public, wearing masks when we’re a little closer to each other than that two metres is a way of minimizing, but doesn’t replace the need to try as much as possible to stay that two metres distance.
“We will, unfortunately, have these measures in place until we have a vaccine or a very effective treatment that would mean that people who get infected would not face the severe outcomes or consequences we see now with the proportion of patients who are most vulnerable to that.”
The provincial death toll remained at 143, with 104 in the Calgary zone, 16 in the North zone, 13 in the Edmonton zone, nine in the South zone and one in the Central zone.
Out of the total deaths, over 76 per cent of them have been at continuing care facilities, with 109 residents dying from COVID-19, according to the province.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Children’s services minister says Alberta preschools can reopen June 1
Hinshaw also said she expects to be able to confirm a date for the next phase of Alberta’s relaunch sometime this week. The working target date for Phase 2 was June 19.
Phase 1 began on May 14 — except for in Calgary and Brooks which, because of their higher number of cases, saw a more gradual relaunch of Phase 1.
Health officials are watching the numbers closely since the first phase and will use that information to settle on a date for Phase 2.
The province is officially moving to a fully complete Stage 1 on Monday, with Calgary and Brooks opening day camps and places of worship with guidelines.
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