Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw. (Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

COVID-19 will be in Alberta until at least New Year’s: Hinshaw

Jul 2, 2020 | 4:01 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Government of Alberta has released its report on COVID-19 for Thursday, June 2.

There was no formal update on Canada Day, so over the last 48 hours, 94 new infections were confirmed. Of those, 542 cases are still active while 7,505 people have recovered.

In the South Health Zone during this time, one person in Medicine Hat died as a result of the virus, taking the provincial total to date to 155.

The region saw another 24 cases in the last two days, 20 of which were in the County of Warner.

So far in the pandemic, 407,363 tests have been completed.

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Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says 2020 has been a crazy year so far, and with June now behind us, we are now halfway done the year.

She believes we cannot start relaxing COVID-19 restrictions too early or think that it is only a threat to other people.

“COVID-19 is still here. It will be with us all summer and into the fall and it will almost certainly be here when we ring in the new year.”

Cases continue to be identified in all age groups, and according to Dr. Hinshaw, a particular increase has been noted in those aged 20-39.

“In the last month alone, we have seen family barbeques, funerals, birthday parties, and other get together lead to dozens of new cases. The good news is that we are not powerless.”

“It is on us to decide what the rest of 2020 will look like. Whatever outcome we want to see this year – whether it is in-school classes resuming this fall, keeping our favourite restaurants open, or keeping older friends and family members safe, we have the power to make that a reality.”

Dr. Hinshaw says we need to make good practices a regular part of everyday life. This includes staying home when you are sick, maintaining a physical distance of two metres from others when possible, wearing a face mask in crowded spaces, and washing your hands frequently.

The regional breakdown for COVID-19 in Alberta is a follows:

• Calgary zone – 5,380 cases, 222 active
  • 112 deaths
  • 177,960 tests
• South zone – 1,333 cases, 49 active
  • 11 deaths (one new)
  • 29,790 tests
• Edmonton zone – 1,068 cases, 233 active
  • 15 deaths
  • 129,635 tests
• North zone – 315 cases, 34 active
  • 16 deaths
  • 32,489 tests
• Central zone – 92 cases, three active
  • One death
  • 30,478 tests

As for the breakdown for the South Health Zone, the province recently changed the way they display information on the geospatial map, which is how we get the information. Due to this change, some of the local numbers may be off from what we have previously reported.

• Brooks – 1,119 cases, one active, nine deaths
• Medicine Hat – 43 cases, six active, one death (one new)
• Lethbridge – 43 cases, eight active
  • West Lethbridge – 20 cases, six active
  • South Lethbridge – 14 cases, zero active
  • North Lethbridge – nine cases, two active
• Cardston County – 41 cases, three active, one death
• Cypress County – 25 cases, four active
• County of Warner – 21 cases, 21 active
• County of Newell – 20 cases, zero active
• M.D. of Taber – eight cases, six active
• Fort Macleod – seven cases, zero active
• Lethbridge County – Three cases, zero active
• County of Forty Mile – Two cases, zero active