Alberta recorded a total of 258 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, according to numbers released by the province Monday.
The numbers, which are no longer updated on weekends by provincial staff, include 83 cases from tests completed on Friday, Aug. 21, 106 cases from Aug. 22, and 69 cases on Aug. 23.
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health also announced four new deaths recorded over the weekend, two on Friday, and two Sunday, bringing the total of Albertans who have died from COVID-19 to 234.
“My sympathies go out to all who lost loved ones this weekend,” Hinshaw said. “Today, there are 1,172 active cases in the province. Forty-five people are in the hospital, including nine in intensive care.”
The two deaths Friday were both women at the Good Samaritan Southgate Care Centre in Edmonton zone, one who was in her 80s and a second in her 100s.
The two deaths Sunday were a man in his 70s in the North zone and a woman in her 70s in the South zone. According to Alberta Health, neither were in continuing care.
The majority of new cases recorded over the weekend were in the Edmonton and Calgary zones; Edmonton zone saw 101 new confirmations, while Calgary zone saw 112 new cases. There were 41 new cases in North zone, two in the Central zone, one in the South zone, and one new case in an unknown zone.
“Edmonton still leads the province, with 631 active cases,” Hinshaw said.
On Monday, Hinshaw said she has been receiving questions from Albertans as to why cases continue to rise in the capital region. She pointed to a “particularly high” attack rate of the virus linked to family gatherings in Edmonton, including weddings and funerals.
“We are hardwired to want to be together,” Hinshaw said. “However, when organized by even the most well-meaning family members, it can be challenging to maintain physical distance with loved ones. It’s natural for families to want to move gatherings indoors when the weather cools.
“When we let our guard down, the virus has its opportunity.”
Hinshaw suggested all Albertans should try to keep gatherings small and outdoors when possible.
“Asking someone to wash their hands or reminding them to maintain two metres of physical distance is the most loving thing we can do at the moment,” she said.
Hinshaw also suggested if people do hold gatherings, they should keep a recorded list of who attends in case of the virus.
“Quick access to accurate information speeds up contact tracing immensely,” she said. “It has the potential to save lives.”
Young adults may be passing on virus ‘unknowingly’
She added that in the Edmonton zone, there has also been an uptick in cases spreading among young adults.
“It is easy to feel invincible and believe that COVID-19 is only a concern for older Albertans,” she said. “It is easy to forget the virus’ potential to cause harm if you don’t know anyone who has suffered from it, it is easy to believe this is someone else’s issue.
“Because of the way the virus is spreading in your age group, you are now more likely to pass on this virus unknowingly, and to do so rapidly,” Hinshaw said.
“We are seeing this in Edmonton right now. You must keep your circle of friends small to protect others from the virus.”
Out of the total cases in Alberta, 56 per cent have been recorded in people between the ages of 20 and 49.
“Critically, if you’re feeling even a bit under the weather, don’t go out,” Hinshaw said. “Stay at home and arrange to be tested. And although we’re seeing these trends in Edmonton right now, tomorrow, they could be in other communities.”
Hinshaw also warned against those outside of Calgary and Edmonton zones on becoming complacent.
“It can be easy to think of COVID-19 as a city problem, and the virus will not show up in rural Alberta,” she said. “There are 185 active cases right now outside of Edmonton and Calgary, and when precautions aren’t taken, we have seen even a single case quickly multiple to many more.”
In total, 717,514 tests for COVID-19 have been completed in Alberta.
The entire city of Edmonton remains under a provincial COVID-19 watch.
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