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351 new COVID-19 cases in Alberta Sunday, 16 new in Lethbridge

Feb 7, 2021 | 4:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – 351 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Alberta on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Over the last 24 hours, 8,241 tests were completed, resulting in a positivity rate of 4.3 per cent.

The total case count for the province is 126,767 with 6,242 of those currently active. 434 people are in hospital, with 81 in intensive care (ICU).

Four new deaths were reported as part of Sunday’s update. The new deaths were in the Edmonton and Calgary zones. The provincial death toll is now 1,709.

“As we begin stage one of our path forward tomorrow, let’s continue to make safe, responsible choices to help keep our cases and hospitalization numbers on their downward trend,” said Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

On the vaccine front, as of Feb. 6, 118,384 doses have been administered in Alberta. For testing, 3,244,309 tests have been completed with 1,773,905 people tested.

Below is a breakdown of cases per provincial health zone:

  • Edmonton Zone – 52,139 cases, 1,889 active
    • 169 in hospital, 25 in ICU
    • 888 deaths (three new)
  • Calgary Zone – 48,728 cases, 2,508 active
    • 153 in hospital, 34 in ICU
    • 533 deaths (one new)
  • North Zone – 10,544 cases, 814 active
    • 46 in hospital, eight in ICU
    • 117 deaths
  • Central Zone – 9,214 cases, 694 active
    • 32 in hospital, four in ICU
    • 97 deaths
  • South Zone – 6,017 cases, 318 active
    • 34 in hospital, 10 in ICU
    • 74 deaths

The province lists 125 cases in unknown zones, with 19 of those active.

Officials are also monitoring the variant strains of COVID-19. Those case numbers are updated Fridays and Tuesday.

As of Friday, Feb. 5, 71 cases of the variant first identified in the United Kingdom have been detected in Alberta. Seven cases of the variant first identified in South Africa have ben confirmed in the province.

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

  • Brooks – 1,364 cases (two new), four active, 14 deaths
  • Lethbridge – 1,805 cases (16 new), 175 active, 13 deaths
    • West Lethbridge – 637 cases, 40 active, two deaths
    • South Lethbridge – 630 cases, 81 active, 10 deaths
    • North Lethbridge – 537 cases, 51 active, one death
  • Medicine Hat – 532 cases, 13 active, 14 deaths
  • Lethbridge County – 518 cases, 14 active, seven deaths
  • Cardston County – 513 cases (eight new), 66 active, seven deaths
  • M.D. of Taber – 332 cases, four active, six deaths
  • M.D. of Pincher Creek – 198 cases (one new), 25 active, four deaths
  • County of Warner – 157 cases, one active, two deaths
  • County of Newell – 158 cases, two active, two deaths
  • Cypress County – 145 cases, two active, zero deaths
  • County of Forty Mile – 117 cases, zero active, two deaths
  • Fort Macleod – 94 cases (one new), two active, three deaths
  • Crowsnest Pass – 24 cases, five active, zero deaths

As well, the Cargill meat-processing plant in High River is facing a new outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Officials say there are 11 cases linked to the facility and of those, seven are active. An outbreak last spring saw at leas 950 staff test positive.

RELATED: Alberta RCMP reviewing whether COVID-19 death of meat-plant worker was criminal

EASING OF RESTRICTIONS

The next live COVID-19 update from the province will be on Monday, Feb. 8.

Additionally, Monday marks the launch of step one of the Alberta’s four-step framework to ease COVID-19 restrictions.

Among the changes coming into effect, limited school and minor sport training will once again be permitted.

READ MORE: Limited school and team sports allowed as of Monday

More details on the province’s four-step approach can be found here.