Alberta health-care worker dies of COVID-19

An Alberta health-care worker has died as a result of COVID-19.

Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro issued a statement Monday afternoon saying he is deeply saddened by the death.

“I want to extend my condolences to this person’s family, friends, loved ones and colleagues at this difficult time,” Shandro said.

“Health-care workers are doing all they can to protect the people they care for, their co-workers, and themselves. The dedication and remarkable commitment I’ve witnessed from health-care workers throughout the pandemic has never wavered — you have stepped up for this province in a time of need.”

The health-care worker’s death occurred in the Calgary zone, according to Alberta Health. No further details about the person were released by Alberta Health on Monday.

“The tragedy of this loss will be felt across the system, and by those who were cared for by this individual and their co-workers. Their service will not be forgotten,” Shandro’s statement read.

On Monday night, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees issued a statement and identified the person who died as Joe Marie (Jing) Corral, a health-care aide at Bethany Riverview continuing-care facility in Calgary.

“This shows that the threat of the virus to front-line workers is real,” said AUPE vice-president Bobby-Joe Borodey.

Borodey said Corral, who leaves behind a son in Edmonton and a daughter in Burnaby, B.C., died on Dec. 28.

“This is obviously a sad and difficult time for the family. It’s always hard to lose a loved one, but it seems even harder over the holidays when we are so focused on family and friends… We all send our condolences to the family,” Borodey said. “All workers on the front lines of this pandemic fight deserve our thanks for their dedication to caring for and providing services to Albertans during this crisis. We owe them a debt that can never be adequately repaid.”

The AUPE said that while the family is asking for privacy, it issued a statement about Corral’s death.

“Our family is truly and eternally grateful for the support and love everyone has shown during this difficult time,” the statement read. “We cannot thank enough those whom have offered their condolences, resources and financial support.”

A GoFundMe page has been started to help support Corral’s family.

Bethany Riverview also issued a statement about Corral’s death.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a valued Bethany Riverview employee,” the statement read. “Our condolences go out to their family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.

“Our teams are working to co-ordinate supports for those affected by this loss. Out of respect for the privacy of this employee and their family we will not be releasing any further information.”

Alberta Health Services confirmed the person who died was not an AHS employee.

“Our hearts go out to their family, loved ones and colleagues. We grieve this loss with them,” the health agency said on social media.

“Losing a fellow health-care worker impacts us all – this person is a colleague, and we think of them as part of our health-care family.

“Health-care workers across the province have been working tirelessly to take care of Albertans, and we are so grateful for their commitment and their dedication.

“We will continue to do all that we can to protect health-care workers by keeping their work environments safe and ensuring that all precautions, such as personal protective equipment, education and training, are taken.”

At a news conference on Tuesday to update Albertans on the province’s response to COVID-19, Shandro spoke further about Corral’s death.

“He served residents faithfully in spite of the risk of COVID(-19),” the health minister said. “He’s an example of the strength of this health-care system and the commitment of the many people who work in it.”

Shandro said that Corral was the first health-care worker in the province to die of COVID-19 but said Alberta confirmed another front-line worker had died Tuesday.

“I’m very sorry to have to announce the loss of another continuing care worker,” he said. “I can tell you that she was in her 50s and worked in the Edmonton zone.

“Our thoughts go out to all the families, and on behalf of Premier Kenney and the government of Alberta, I just want to say to these two families, I want them to know that we thank these two people for their service to the province and we join you in honouring their memory.

“The pandemic has brought too many stories of tragedy to too many families. But it’s also brought examples of the hard work and commitment of people working in the health-care system.”

Five days of COVID-19 data

Alberta Health released updated COVID-19 data Monday afternoon, which shows the province recorded 5,107 new cases and 96 additional deaths from the disease over the past five days.

The official data comes after preliminary, estimated numbers had been released on Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s Twitter account over the past several days. The data tweeted out by the province’s chief medical officer of health didn’t include exact numbers for new cases, or any information on the number of deaths or hospitalizations.

As of Monday afternoon, there were 905 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 136 of whom were being treated in intensive care units.

“A new year is upon us, and with it comes hope for a brighter tomorrow,” Hinshaw tweeted.

“But our battle with COVID-19 is far from over. The actions we all take now can help bring COVID-19 cases & hospitalizations down in Alberta in the weeks to come.”

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The new cases break down by day as follows:

• Dec: 30 – 1,226
• Dec: 31 – 1,361
• Jan. 1 – 933
• Jan. 2 – 459
• Jan. 3 – 1,128

Alberta has now recorded a total of 105,535 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.

The death toll due to COVID-19 has now reached 1,142 people.

Of the 96 deaths reported over the last five days, 54 were in the Edmonton zone, 29 were in the Calgary zone, six were in the Central zone, four were in the South zone and three were in the North zone.

As of Jan. 3, the province said 22,861 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in Alberta.

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health is scheduled to provide her first in-person update of 2021 on Tuesday afternoon.

–With files from Global News’ Phil Heidenreich