The number of active COVID-19 cases in Alberta continues to decline, along with hospitalizations and ICU admissions due to the virus.
On Wednesday, Alberta Health said 153 new COVID-19 cases had been identified. There were 2,639 total active cases across the province.
As of Wednesday, 255 Albertans were in hospital with COVID-19, 67 of whom were in ICU.
Alberta Health said four deaths had been reported over the last 24 hours. All four cases included comorbidities. Three COVID-19 fatalities were in the Calgary zone: a man in his 90s, a man in his 50s, and a woman in her 50s. A woman in her 70s from the North zone also died.
Two patients in their 80s linked to the COVID-19 Delta variant outbreaks at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary have died from the illness, according to Alberta Health Services, one of whom was fully immunized.
The second patient who died had not been immunized. AHS said both patients had comorbidities.
One additional patient at the hospital was confirmed to have contracted the Delta variant of COVID-19 linked to the outbreak, officials said Wednesday.
AHS said the majority of those confirmed to have the Delta variant linked to the outbreaks have mild symptoms.
Premier Jason Kenney tweeted Wednesday that 69.5 per cent of Albertans 12 and over had received at least one dose of vaccine as of June 14. About 22 per cent had received two doses.
Later on Wednesday, Alberta Health updated the numbers as of end-of-day June 15, saying 69.7 per cent of eligible Albertans had received at least one dose and 23.1 per cent had been fully vaccinated with two doses.
Alberta has administered 3,533,434 doses of COVID-19 vaccine so far.
In order to trigger Stage 3 of Alberta’s “Open for Summer” plan — which lifts nearly all COVID-19 public health restrictions — 70 per cent of eligible Albertans age 12 and older must have at least one dose of the vaccine.
The next stage takes effect two weeks after the vaccination threshold has been reached.
All Albertans 12 and older are now eligible to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses are available to those who received their first in April or earlier.
Alberta Health said Tuesday that more details are expected to be announced later this week on when those who received their first jab in May can book an appointment for their second.
Details on how to book a vaccine appointment are available online.
- Canadian man dies during Texas Ironman event. His widow wants answers as to why
- ‘Sciatica was gone’: hospital performs robot-assisted spinal surgery in Canadian first
- Canadians more likely to eat food past best-before date. What are the risks?
- Invasive strep: ‘Don’t wait’ to seek care, N.S. woman warns on long road to recovery
Earlier this week, Kenney announced the details of a lottery which encourages eligible Albertans to get vaccinated.
The premier announced three separate $1-million prizes are up for grabs for those who receive at least one dose, and said additional incentives would be announced at a later date.
On Wednesday morning, the province sent out a news release stating an additional 40 travel-related prizes have been added, but people must be fully immunized with both doses of the vaccine in order to win one of them.
The vacation packages were donated by WestJet and Air Canada, and include week-long stays at all inclusive resorts across Canada and abroad, as well as travel points and dollars.
— With files from Caley Ramsay and Lauren Pullen, Global News
Comments