AHS reports two COVID deaths in South Zone including one in Lethbridge

Active infections in the region are down by seven but up by one in Lethbridge.

Since yesterday’s update, 12 Albertans died from COVID including four in the Edmonton Zone, three in the North Zone, two each in the South and Calgary Zones, and one in the Central Zone. To date, the virus has claimed the lives of 1,599.

The deaths in the South Zone are for one person each in South Lethbridge and the M.D. of Pincher Creek.

A spokesperson with AHS says one was a woman in her 70’s and the other was a man in his 70’s but could not clarify which was from Lethbridge and which was from Pincher Creek. Neither are connected to any outbreaks.

Provincially, 604 patients are currently hospitalized and 110 have been admitted to intensive care.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says, from the peak on December 30, those numbers have fallen from 943 for hospitalizations and 155 for ICU.

This is a sign that things are getting better.

“However, it also means there are just as many people in hospital today on December 4 when our acute system was struggling under the impact of COVID-19. While hospitalizations are declining, our health system is still feeling this strain today, which impacts anyone who needs care, regardless of whether it is COVID or any other reason.”

“No one should ignore symptoms of cancer, stroke, heart disease, or other important conditions, everyone should know that, if they are in need of urgent care, that care is available. To keep it that way, it is essential that we keep the restrictions in place for a little while longer so we can ensure care is readily available for all Albertans.”

Dr. Hinshaw says 101,123 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the province to date, officially entering six-digits.

So far, about 11,000 Albertans have received the recommended two doses of vaccine, meaning they have achieved “full immunity.”

With another 12,856 tests conducted over the past day, there has now been a total of 3,130,184 tests completed on 1,744,022 different people.

Below is a graph of how COVID-19 cases in Alberta have trended since the start of the pandemic, which can also be accessed with more detail here.

COVID-19 cases in Alberta. (Supplied by Alberta Health Services)

Below is a breakdown of cases per health zone:

Edmonton Zone – 50,990 cases, 2,862 active
- 258 in hospital, 36 in ICU
- 836 deaths (four new)
Calgary Zone – 46,906 cases, 3,252 active
- 193 in hospital, 49 in ICU
- 501 deaths (two new)
North Zone – 9,913 cases, 1,009 active
- 72 in hospital, eight in ICU
- 107 deaths (three new)
Central Zone – 8,672 cases, 712 active
- 49 in hospital, seven in ICU
- 84 deaths (one new)
South Zone – 5,751 cases, 355 active
- 32 in hospital, 10 in ICU
- 71 deaths (two new)

Below is a breakdown of cases in the South Health Zone:

Brooks – 1,361 cases, four active, 14 deaths
Lethbridge – 1,655 cases (14 new), 118 active, 12 deaths (one new)
- West Lethbridge – 598 cases (three new), 39 active, two deaths
- South Lethbridge – 567 cases (eight new), 57 active, nine deaths (one new)
- North Lethbridge – 491 cases (two new), 21 active, one death
Medicine Hat – 524 cases, 21 active, 13 deaths
Lethbridge County – 509 cases (two new), 31 active, seven deaths
Cardston County – 454 cases (five new), 96 active, six deaths
M.D. of Taber – 328 cases, five active, six deaths
M.D. of Pincher Creek – 177 cases (two new), 38 active, four deaths (one new)
County of Warner – 158 cases, seven active, two deaths
County of Newell – 157 cases (one new), 11 active, two deaths
Cypress County – 145 cases (one new), two active, zero deaths
County of Forty Mile – 117 cases, one active, two deaths
Fort Macleod – 92 cases (one new), 15 active, three deaths
Crowsnest Pass – 19 cases (one new), six active, zero deaths

by David Opinko

AHS reports two COVID deaths in South Zone including one in Lethbridge

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