The newest:
- The province reported 351 extra circumstances of COVID-19 on Sunday, in contrast with 348 new circumstances reported Saturday. The testing positivity charge is 4.3 per cent, barely greater than the charge of three.6 per cent from the day prior to this.
- Since reaching a peak on Dec. 7, 2020 of 1,767 new circumstances per day, the seven-day common of day by day new circumstances has been declining. As of Feb. 4, the seven-day common was 414.57, roughly the extent it was at in late October when the numbers had simply began rising sharply.
- One other 4 individuals have died, bringing the full variety of deaths within the province to 1,709.
- There have been 6,242 energetic circumstances within the province Sunday, inching down from 6,266 on Saturday.
- The provincewide R-value, which refers back to the common variety of individuals contaminated by every particular person with COVID-19, was 0.83.
- There have been 434 individuals in hospital, together with 81 in intensive care.
- Whereas 450 was the quantity that hospitalizations must drop under to ease restrictions additional, the subsequent part of Alberta’s reopening plan would solely kick in a minimum of three weeks after the primary stage, which begins Monday, Alberta Well being stated.
- The primary spherical of eased COVID-19 restrictions consists of restricted faculty and minor sports activities coaching, permitting eating places, cafés and pubs to reopen for dine-in providers, and allowing health coaching, however just for one-on-one exercises — particular person exercises and not using a coach should not permitted.
- The union representing employees at a pork processing plant in central Alberta contending with a COVID-19 outbreak is looking for the ability to be quickly shut down.
- As of Sunday, 197 circumstances had been linked to the outbreak on the Olymel meat processing plant in Purple Deer. That features 116 actives circumstances, 80 recovered and one dying, Alberta Well being confirmed.
- The Cargill meat-processing plant close to Excessive River, Alta., is going through a brand new outbreak. The plant was the positioning of the biggest COVID-19 outbreak in Canada final 12 months — with 950 employees and a whole lot of their shut contacts testing optimistic.
- The brand new outbreak at Cargill presently has 14 circumstances, 10 of that are energetic.
- The province has now confirmed 78 circumstances of individuals contaminated with variants of the coronavirus that have been first recognized in the UK and South Africa.
- As of Sunday, 118,384 first doses of the vaccine had been administered.
- Widespread assumptions that suicide charges would enhance throughout the pandemic should not supported by the rising quantity of proof popping out of Canadian provinces and different jurisdictions around the globe, say consultants who research the subject.
- Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Well being, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, stated Thursday she has heard that some seniors in Alberta are getting cellphone calls telling them they will ebook vaccination appointments in the event that they’re keen to pay charges. “This isn’t a authentic declare, this can be a rip-off,” she stated.
See the detailed regional breakdown:
Right here is the detailed regional breakdown of energetic circumstances as of Sunday.
- Calgary zone: 2,508, down from 2,561 reported on Saturday (45,687 recovered).
- Edmonton zone: 1,889, down from 1,940 (49,362 recovered).
- North zone: 814, up from 794 (9,613 recovered).
- South zone: 318, up from 304 (5,625 recovered).
- Central zone: 694, up from 654 (8,423 recovered).
- Unknown: 19, up from 13 (106 recovered).
Discover out which neighbourhoods or communities have essentially the most circumstances, how arduous individuals of various ages have been hit, the ages of individuals in hospital, how Alberta compares to different provinces and extra in: Listed here are the most recent COVID-19 statistics for Alberta — and what they imply
Listed here are the most recent Alberta COVID-19 tales:
Union requires short-term shut down at Alberta pork plant contending with COVID-19 outbreak
The union representing employees at a pork processing plant in central Alberta contending with a COVID-19 outbreak is looking for the ability to be quickly shut down.
As of Sunday, 197 circumstances had been linked to the outbreak on the Olymel meat processing plant in Purple Deer. That features 116 actives circumstances, 80 recovered and one dying, Alberta Well being confirmed.
The circumstances have grown considerably from Friday when 156 circumstances have been linked to the outbreak together with 80 energetic circumstances, and 75 recovered.
United Meals and Industrial Employees Native 401, the union representing the plant’s 1,850 employees, wrote a letter Friday to the ability’s supervisor, requesting Olymel quickly shut down the plant for 2 weeks and pay employees in full throughout the break day.
In the meantime, a beef processing plant in Excessive River, Alta., that skilled a big outbreak final 12 months is now coping with one other, smaller outbreak.
As of Sunday, Alberta Well being had been notified of 14 circumstances linked to the outbreak at Cargill in Excessive River. Of those 10 have been energetic and 4 are recovered.
For extra, see: Union requires short-term shut down at Alberta pork plant contending with COVID-19 outbreak
Many assumed suicides would spike in 2020. To this point, the information tells a distinct story
Widespread assumptions that suicide charges would enhance throughout the pandemic should not supported by the rising quantity of proof popping out of Canadian provinces and different jurisdictions around the globe, say consultants who research the subject.
“It is a good instance of how generally the story we inform ourselves, we search for causes to assist it, and we do not at all times use the information,” stated Tyler Black, a psychiatrist and suicidologist with the College of British Columbia.
“Once we look again on the numbers, it simply does not pan out the way in which we thought.”
Quite a few public figures have claimed a hyperlink between public-health restrictions and elevated suicide charges, with out proof to again it up. Some merely speculated about it early on within the pandemic, whereas others have made stronger claims extra lately.
Ontario MPP Roman Baber was kicked out of the Progressive Conservative caucus in January after sending an open letter asserting public-health restrictions have been “inflicting an avalanche of suicides,” amongst different claims.
However Black pointed to lately launched information out of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan that recommend suicide charges truly declined in 2020. He additionally famous coroners in Quebec and the chief health worker in Newfoundland and Labrador have lately stated there have been no will increase in suicide in these provinces final 12 months.
For extra, see: Many assumed suicides would spike in 2020. To this point, the information tells a distinct story
Restricted minor staff sport coaching allowed as COVID-19 restrictions ease
The province moved forward with the primary spherical of eased COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, together with restricted faculty and minor sports activities coaching, permitting eating places, cafés and pubs to reopen for dine-in providers, and allowing health coaching, however just for one-on-one exercises — particular person exercises and not using a coach should not permitted.
The plan for a gradual reopening introduced in late January is contingent on an ongoing lower in hospitalizations.
The primary stage, starting Monday, required fewer than 600 sufferers in hospital with COVID-19. As of Friday, that quantity stood at 475, together with 89 individuals in intensive care.
Kids and youth shall be allowed to take part in classes, practices and conditioning actions for each indoor and outside sports activities. Efficiency actions, corresponding to music class, are additionally permitted. Video games are nonetheless not allowed.
A information launch Saturday laid out numerous guidelines for youth and minor sports activities and actions:
- All members have to be 18 years outdated or youthful, excluding coaches and trainers;
- A most of 10 individuals, together with coaches, trainers and members, are allowed;
- All members should keep social distancing always;
- Members have to be masked always, besides when engaged in bodily exercise;
- Coaches and trainers should at all times be masked;
- Entry to alter rooms ought to be restricted to “accelerated” arrival and departure, for emergencies and washroom use solely.
For extra, see: Restricted minor staff sport coaching to be allowed when COVID-19 restrictions ease Monday
Alberta oilsands have seen greater than 1,000 circumstances of COVID-19
For the reason that pandemic started, there have been greater than 1,000 circumstances of COVID-19 linked to oilsands outbreaks in Alberta, together with 120 circumstances recognized in different provinces.
Eleven of the outbreaks are nonetheless energetic, with 38 present circumstances.
Regardless of the numbers, trade officers aren’t elevating alarms.
“The ratios [of infection] look to be fairly much like the overall inhabitants,” stated Perry Berkenpas, govt director of the Oil Sands Neighborhood Alliance.
Extra analysis wanted on how vaccines have an effect on variants
Extra analysis is wanted to research the effectiveness of the vaccines on the virus variants, Hinshaw stated.
The province has now confirmed a complete of 68 circumstances of individuals contaminated with variants of the coronavirus that have been first recognized in the UK and South Africa.
Whilst total COVID-19 numbers proceed to pattern downward throughout Canada, well being officers are more and more involved in regards to the unfold of two variants: one first detected within the U.Ok. and one other in South Africa, which consultants say might ‘quickly’ change the state of affairs in Canada. 2:05
“We’re actively reviewing the literature and expertise across the globe to evaluate if extra measures are wanted at school and different settings within the weeks forward,” Hinshaw stated Thursday.
“It is vital to do not forget that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are just a few months outdated, identical to the variants. There may be a lot we don’t but know, although researchers around the globe are investigating,” she stated.
“Nonetheless, even in opposition to the variants, these vaccines nonetheless look like extraordinarily efficient at stopping extreme circumstances, hospitalizations and deaths.”
Vaccine rip-off targets seniors
Hinshaw stated she has heard that some seniors in Alberta are getting cellphone calls telling them they will ebook vaccination appointments in the event that they’re keen to pay charges.
“This isn’t a authentic declare, this can be a rip-off,” she stated. “Attributable to restricted vaccine provide coming into the province, we’re not but in a position to supply the vaccine to all Albertans over the age of 75.
“Once we do, the vaccine shall be freed from cost. Neither AHS nor another neighborhood supplier will ever be asking for fee for the vaccine. In case you obtain these calls, please dangle up instantly and report back to the non-emergency line of your native legislation enforcement.”
