(Dreamstime)

By David Opinko

AHS reports 29 COVID deaths, more immunocompromised Albertans eligible for 3rd dose

Sep 21, 2021 | 5:28 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The province has released its latest report on COVID-19 for Tuesday, covering statistics from the past 24 hours.

1,519 cases were confirmed across the province, bringing the total to 283,710. Of those, 20,917 cases are active while 260,219 people have recovered.

In the South Zone, 232 people tested positive with 76 in Medicine Hat and 67 in Lethbridge.

Active cases rise by 85 across the region.

AHS reported 29 COVID-19 deaths across the province since yesterday’s update, including 12 in the Central Zone, seven in the North Zone, four in the South Zone, and three each in the Calgary and Edmonton Zones. To date, 2,574 Albertans have died as a result of the virus.

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: September 27, 2024

Sep 27, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: September 20, 2024

Sep 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: August 30, 2024

Aug 30, 2024

Provincially, 996 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID including 222 who have been admitted to intensive care.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says more Albertans who are immunocompromised are now eligible to receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, only seniors living in congregate care are eligible. The expanded list now also includes:

• Recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy.
• Individuals with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
• Individuals with Stage 3 or advanced HIV infection and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
• Individuals undergoing immunosuppressive therapies (e.g., anti-B cell therapies, high-dose systemic corticosteroids, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, or tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biologic agents).
• Transplant recipients, including solid organ transplants and hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
• Individuals with chronic kidney disease who are receiving regular dialysis.
• Individuals in active cancer treatment (chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapies), excluding those receiving only hormonal therapy, radiation therapy or surgery.
• Individuals on certain medications for autoimmune diseases, including rituximab, ocrelizumab and ofatumumab.

“The data shows that individuals with certain immunocompromising conditions do not develop as robust an immune response from two doses and benefit from a third dose,” says Hinshaw. “Evidence is still emerging on third doses for the broader population, and we continue to monitor the situation. We will adapt our approach as new evidence emerges.”

Below are two graphs showing how COVID-19 in Alberta has trended since the start of the pandemic, which can also be accessed with more detail here.

Active COVID-19 cases in Alberta. (Alberta Health Services)

COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions. (Alberta Health Services)

Below is a breakdown of cases per health zone in Alberta:

• Calgary Zone – 109,837 cases, 5,487 active
  • 262 in hospital, 65 in ICU
  • 756 deaths (three new)
• Edmonton Zone – 92,072 cases, 5,690 active
  • 342 in hospital, 101 in ICU
  • 1,157 deaths (three new)
• North Zone – 35,688 cases, 3,877 active
  • 122 in hospital, 12 in ICU
  • 247 deaths (seven new)
• Central Zone – 28,033 cases, 3,666 active
  • 171 in hospital, 19 in ICU
  • 227 deaths (12 new)
• South Zone – 18,022 cases, 2,170 active
  • 99 in hospital, 26 in ICU
  • 187 deaths (four new)

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

• Lethbridge – 5,799 cases (67 new), 438 active, 45 deaths (one new)
  • West Lethbridge – 2,140 cases (17 new), 131 active, five deaths
  • North Lethbridge – 1,909 cases (21 new), 160 active, 13 deaths (one new)
  • South Lethbridge – 1,743 cases (29 new), 143 active, 27 deaths
• Medicine Hat – 3,468 cases (76 new), 687 active, 48 deaths
• Brooks – 1,824 cases (one new), 131 active, 17 deaths (one new)
• Lethbridge County – 1,536 cases (14 new), 133 active, 14 deaths
• Cardston County – 1,405 cases (seven new), 140 active, 23 deaths
• M.D. of Taber – 927 cases (21 new), 210 active, nine deaths
• Cypress County – 686 cases (13 new), 115 active, two deaths
• County of Warner – 575 cases (seven new), 70 active, three deaths
• M.D. of Pincher Creek – 493 cases (12 new), 65 active, eight deaths (one new)
• Fort Macleod – 420 cases (two new), 51 active, six deaths
• County of Newell – 351 cases (five new), 46 active, four deaths
• County of Forty Mile – 212 cases (five new), 33 active, three deaths
• Crowsnest Pass – 120 cases (one new), 15 active, one death
• Waterton – Seven cases, zero active, zero deaths