Alberta records 989 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday, 31 additional deaths

On Saturday, Alberta recorded an additional 989 new cases of COVID-19, plus 31 additional fatalities related to the disease.

There was an increase in active case numbers provincially, with Alberta now sitting at 14,437 currently active cases. Saturday’s numbers show there have been just 149 additional recoveries over the last 24 hour period.

The additional 989 cases come from 13,540 tests performed on Jan. 8, equaling a provincial positivity rate of just over seven per cent.

There are now 827 people in hospital, 132 of whom are in intensive care.

A total of 1,272 Albertans have now died from COVID-19.

The 31 deaths announced Saturday happened over a range of dates from Dec. 6 to Jan. 8.

Sixteen of the deaths were in Edmonton zone, 11 were in Calgary zone, three were in Central zone, and one was in North zone.

The majority of deaths were people in their 80s and 90s who were connected to long-term care outbreaks.

Saturday’s update comes just one day after the province confirmed a new variant of COVID-19 — the South African variant — had been confirmed for the first time in Canada in Alberta.

The province has also confirmed four cases of the U.K. variant of COVID-19.

Alberta remains under strict restrictions to curb the spread of the disease.

Those include include a ban on in-person dining and limit grocery and retail stores to 15 per cent of their fire capacity. These restrictions, which went into place on Dec. 13, also forced the closure of personal services like gyms and hair salons.

Premier Jason Kenney said earlier this week they will now be in place until at least Jan. 21, 2021.

Death details

In Edmonton zone, three deaths were connected to the outbreak at the Edmonton Chinatown Care Centre. Two women in their 90s and one man in his 90s died, all of whom were believed to have had comorbidities.

Five people connected to the Miller Crossing Care Centre in Edmonson zone have died. A man in his 70s, a man in his 80s, two women in their 80s and a woman in her 60s all died. All five cases are believed to have had comorbidities.

A woman in her 60s linked to the outbreak at the Royal Alexandra Hospital died. She was believed to have had a pre-existing condition.

A man in his 80s with comorbidities who was connected to the outbreak at the St. Thomas Health Centre in the Edmonton zone passed away.

A woman in her 60s linked to the Winnifred Steward Association Association group home outbreak died. Alberta Health said she had comorbidities.

A woman in her 90s with pre-existing conditions, connected to Edmonton zone’s Lifestyle Options Terra Losa, died.

A man in his 60s at the St. Thomas Health Centre and a woman in her 90s at the Lifestyle Options Whitemud also died. Both are believed to have had pre-existing conditions.

A man in his 80s, and a man in his 50s, neither connected to any care centres but both with comorbidities, also died in the Edmonton zone.

In the Calgary zone, three people connected to the Agecare Skypoint care centre died: two men in their 90s and one woman in her 90s. All three are believed to have had comorbidities.

A woman in her 80s at Bethany Calgary care centre died. She was believed to have pre-existing conditions. A woman in her 70s at the Peter Lougheed Centre died. A man in his 60s linked to the Intercare Southwood centre, with comorbidities, also died.

Five people in Calgary zone who were not connected to any outbreaks died: three men in their 80s, a woman in her 80s, and a man in his 60s. All but the man in his 60s were believed to have had cormorbidities.

In Central zone, a woman in her 70s connected to the outbreak at the Extendicare Michener Hill care centre died. Two people not connected to outbreaks died, a woman in her 80s and a man in his 60s. All three Central zone fatalities Saturday were believed to have had pre-existing conditions.

A man in his 90s in North zone died.