For nearly three weeks, COVID-19 hospitalizations have been trending down in Alberta.
The numbers, released weekly by Alberta Health, were updated Wednesday. As of Jan. 23, there were 778 people in hospital with COVID-19; 29 of whom were in intensive care.
The week prior, there were 856 people in hospital, including 29 in ICU.
The most recent peak was Jan. 4, with 919 hospitalizations.
COVID-19 hospitalizations include people who come to hospital with a primary or contributing cause of the coronavirus — for example, showing COVID-like symptoms — and others who test positive for COVID-19 once in hospital.
As of Jan. 23, Alberta Health said 5,465 total deaths have been attributed to COVID-19.
However, last week, there were more — 5,470 total deaths.
Alberta Health said the lower number was because some deaths were “reclassified.” Twenty-five deaths were “recoded as not due to COVID-19.”
A spokesperson said 20 new COVID deaths were reported between Jan. 17 and Jan. 23.
That is fewer than last week, when 27 deaths were reported.