Hinshaw urges understanding, compassion as Alberta confirms additional 267 cases of COVID-19

Dr. Deena Hinshaw is urging Albertans to be understanding of those in their lives that contract COVID-19.

According to the province’s chief medical officer of health, her office has been hearing of people feeling criticized, stigmatized and even blamed if they catch the novel coronavirus.

“It is important to remember that every part of this province and every sector of society has been touched by this virus,” Hinshaw said Tuesday.

“Many of the cases and outbreaks we see have been triggered by a series of unfortunate events.”

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She urged Albertans to be understanding and allow those who have symptoms to isolate without judgement.

“Stigma and blame risk driving cases and spread underground and risk discouraging people from going for testing.”

Alberta confirmed an additional 267 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday from about 6,300 tests. Hinshaw said the province’s positivity rate was 4.4 per cent.

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There were 326 people in hospital as of Tuesday’s update, with 51 of those people in the ICU.

An additional 11 deaths were reported to Alberta Health over the last 24 hours. However, a death previously ruled to be related to COVID-19 was ruled to not have the novel coronavirus as a contributing cause, so Alberta’s death toll climbed by 10.

Five of the deaths were reported in the Edmonton zone. A man in his 60s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 90s, a woman in her 80s and a woman in her 100s have all died.

The woman in her 100s was linked to the outbreak at Jasper Place Continuing Care Centre.

In the Calgary zone, there were two deaths reported. A woman in her 80s linked to the Silvera Valleyview Lodge outbreak and a woman in her 80s not linked to an outbreak have both died.

There were two deaths – a man in his 80s and a woman in her 90s – reported in the North zone.

Two people died in the South zone: a man in his 60s linked to the outbreak at The Valleyview and a woman in her 70s.

All 11 deaths included comorbidities, Alberta Health said.

1:13 Alberta records 11 more COVID-19 deaths, 267 new cases on Tuesday

Alberta’s COVID-19 death toll now sits at 1,853.

Alberta had 4,516 active cases of COVID-19. To date, 125,234 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19 and 180,755 doses of vaccine had been administered.

To date, about 107,000 Albertans have received at least one dose of vaccine and about 73,000 Albertans are fully vaccinated with two doses.