COVID hospital and ICU numbers half of December’s peak in Alberta

Since yesterday’s update, six Albertans died from COVID with two each in the Edmonton, Calgary, and Central Zones. To date, the virus has claimed the lives of 1,728 people in the province.

At the peak on December 31, 783 Albertans had been admitted to hospital due to COVID-19 while another 140 were in ICU. Combined, that number was 923.

In today’s report, 344 are in hospital and 77 have been admitted to intensive care, making a total of 421.

This means that, over the last two-and-a-half months, hospital and ICU numbers in Alberta have fallen by 54 per cent.

A graph showing these trends can be seen below or through the link here.

COVID-19 hospital and ICU admission in Alberta. (Alberta Health Services)

Earlier this month, the province entered Step 1 of its new “gradual, stepped-approach” to lifting COVID restrictions. It’s based on COVID hospitalization numbers.

At the end of February, the government will review the situation to see if we can go to Step 2, which requires fewer than 450 hospitalizations.

Hospitalization benchmarks for easing COVID restrictions. (Government of Alberta)

With another 10,873 tests completed over the past day, there has now been a total of 3,268,436 tests conducted on 1,780,372 different people.

129,452 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the province.

Approximately 32,700 Albertans have received the recommended two doses. Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Wednesday that 71 per cent of all residents in long-term care and supportive living facilities have gotten their two doses.

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 provincial health zone:

Edmonton Zone – 52,377 cases, 1,705 active
- 149 in hospital, 22 in ICU
- 894 deaths (two new)
Calgary Zone – 49,042 cases, 2,269 active
- 152 in hospital, 33 in ICU
- 538 deaths (two new)
North Zone – 10,628 cases, 722 active
- 53 in hospital, six in ICU
- 120 deaths
Central Zone – 9,329 cases, 674 active
- 33 in hospital, five in ICU
- 101 deaths (two new)
South Zone – 6,078 cases, 326 active
- 34 in hospital, 11 in ICU
- 75 deaths

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

Brooks – 1,365 cases, four active, 14 deaths
Lethbridge – 1,843 cases (15 new), 189 active, 13 deaths
- West Lethbridge – 649 cases (one new), 48 active, two deaths
- South Lethbridge – 643 cases (five new), 83 active, 10 deaths
- North Lethbridge – 550 cases (nine new), 56 active, one death
Medicine Hat – 536 cases (one new), 15 active, 14 deaths
Cardston County – 522 cases (six new), 63 active, eight deaths
Lethbridge County – 520 cases (one new), 11 active, seven deaths
M.D. of Taber – 332 cases, four active, six deaths
M.D. of Pincher Creek – 203 cases (three new), 25 active, four deaths
County of Newell – 158 cases, one active, two deaths
County of Warner – 158 cases, one active, two deaths
Cypress County – 145 cases, one active, zero deaths
County of Forty Mile – 117 cases, zero active, two deaths
Fort Macleod – 95 cases (one new), three active, three deaths
Crowsnest Pass – 24 cases, four active, zero deaths

by David Opinko

COVID hospital and ICU numbers half of December’s peak in Alberta

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