Dr. Deena Hinshaw during Monday's update (Government of Alberta)

By Justin Goulet

112 deaths over last five days bring Alberta’s COVID death toll above 1,000

Dec 28, 2020 | 4:29 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Following a brief, ‘modified’ COVID-19 update Sunday, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw was back at the podium Monday to provide a more thorough update on the virus.

The December 28 update offered numbers for the last five days:

December 23

· 1,007 new cases reported

· 15,585 tests completed, 30 new deaths

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December 24

· 1,191 new cases reported

· 17,845 tests completed, 18 new deaths

December 25

· 914 new cases

· 14,193 tests completed, 17 new deaths

December 26

· 459 new cases

· 16,866 tests completed, 27 new deaths

December 27

· 917 new cases

· 9,633 tests completed, 20 new deaths

Hinshaw said that currently, there are 878 in hospital across Alberta, with 148 people in intensive case (ICU).

“My sympathies go out to those in hospital and to those who are supporting them, both their family and friends, as well as the healthcare workers who have been spending their holidays caring for them,” Hinshaw said.

“In addition, my deepest condolences go out to the loved ones mourning the loss of those individuals who have passed away over the past five days, whether from COVID-19 or any other cause.”

The 112 new deaths over the last five days bring the province’s death toll over the one thousand mark, with 1,002 total deaths in Alberta related to COVID-19.

“This tragic milestone is more than a number or statistic. It represents more than 1,000 mothers, wives, fathers, husbands – empty spaces around the table that can never be filled. Each one means that there is a family that is grieving, a friend who has lost someone they loved, a child who lost their parent, a partner who lost their true love,” stated Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

“Words cannot ease the pain caused by this loss, and I know it seems unfair that public safety measures mean we cannot say a proper goodbye to those who mean so much to us. This is part of COVID-19’s heartbreaking cost. It is why we must all work together to support those who have lost someone and do all we can to spare others from experiencing this grief.”

Below is a break down of cases per Health Zone:

• Edmonton Zone – 42,328 cases, 7,127 active
  • 490 in hospital, 81 in ICU
  • 529 deaths
• Calgary Zone – 37,894 cases, 5,429 active
  • 233 in hospital, 50 in ICU
  • 313 deaths
• North Zone – 6,651 cases, 1,049 active
  • 56 in hospital, four in ICU
  • 65 deaths
• Central Zone – 6,231 cases, 1,484 active
  • 85 in hospital, 11 in ICU
  • 39 deaths
• South Zone – 4,939 cases, 301 active
  • 14 in hospital, two in ICU
  • 56 deaths

The province lists 226 cases (83 active) in zones that are unknown.

Hinshaw noted the smaller number of new cases over the last five days is partly due to fewer tests being conducted over the holiday break. She also thanked Albertans for following the rules set in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.

As of December 28, 2,754,873 tests have been completed, and 1,643,096 people have been tested.

Below is a breakdown of cases for the South Health Zone, as of December 28:

• Brooks – 1,343 cases, 23 active, 14 deaths
• Lethbridge – 1,397 cases, 108 active, eight deaths
  • West Lethbridge – 515 cases, 31 active, two deaths
  • South Lethbridge – 448 cases, 49 active, four deaths
  • North Lethbridge – 434 cases, 28 active, two deaths
• Medicine Hat – 448 cases, 59 active, seven deaths
• Lethbridge County – 423 cases, 29 active, three deaths
• M.D. of Taber – 308 cases, 15 active, six deaths
• Cardston County – 267 cases, 36 active, six deaths
• County of Warner – 142 cases, two active, two deaths
• Cypress County – 140 cases, five active, zero deaths
• County of Newell – 138 cases, two active, two deaths
• County of Forty Mile – 113 cases, one active, two deaths
• M.D. of Pincher Creek – 102 cases, 20 active, three deaths
• Fort Macleod – 69 cases, nine active, three deaths
• Crowsnest Pass – 11 cases, two active, zero deaths

NEW STRAIN

Hinshaw also spoke on a new strain of the coronavirus, which led to a halt of flights into Canada from the U.K. last week.

“In recent days, British Columbia and Ontario were first to report cases linked to recent travel to the U.K. that have this variant virus. In Alberta, we have no identified a single case of COVID-19 caused by this variant in someone who had recently arrived from the U.K.,” she said.

“The good news is that this individual did everything they were supposed to do, following quarantine and other health measures and at this point, there is no evidence that there has been any further spread.”

Hinshaw reiterated that the best way to limit the spread of COVID-19 is to continue following all health guidelines in place across the province.

She added that healthcare workers continued to receive their first shots of the vaccine over the last five days, except for Christmas Day.

“They [Alberta Health Services] have been administering shots every day, except Christmas Day, and will only pause again on New Year’s Day,” she said.

“Their efforts have resulted in 6,016 doses of the Pfizer vaccine being administered in our province over the last two weeks. The work will continue as more vaccine arrives and more vaccine gets distributed around the province.”

Earlier on Monday, Canada surpassed 15,000 COVID deaths following the report of 37 new deaths in Quebec.