Health Minister Jason Copping. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Copping encouraged by falling COVID numbers in Alberta

May 25, 2022 | 4:10 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The province has released its latest weekly report on COVID-19. The numbers reported in this update reflect data from May 17-23, 2022.

During that time, 2,737 cases were confirmed across the province, or a daily average of 391.

16,053 tests were conducted over the last week, meaning the positivity rate was 17%.

In the South Zone, 181 people tested positive, or approximately 26 per day. In Lethbridge, there were 38 new COVID cases, or a little over five each day.

Health Minster Jason Copping says COVID-19 cases have been falling significantly in recent weeks.

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“The peak of B.A.2 cases has passed and the current wave is receding. That’s good news, especially for the people working in our healthcare system,” says Copping.

Copping was also encouraged by hospitalization numbers.

Provincially, 1,040 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID including 31 who have been admitted to intensive care. This marks decreases of 125 for hospitalizations and 11 for ICU admissions compared to last week’s report.

Copping says, “The number of COVID positive patients in hospital is down again, and sharply, in the past week. The total number of patients in ICU has been around 150 over the past few days, well within the pre-COVID base of 173 beds.”

Over the last week, 55 Albertans died from COVID including 24 in the Calgary Zone, 13 in the Edmonton Zone, seven in the North Zone, six in the Central Zone, and five in the South Zone.

The deaths in the South Zone included two in Lethbridge and one each in Medicine Hat, the M.D. of Taber, and Crowsnest Pass.

Below are two images showing COVID-19 data in Alberta, detailing hospitalization trends and COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status. These graphics, as well as other statistics, can be accessed in more detail here.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Alberta. (Alberta Health Services)

COVID-19 hospitalizations by vaccination status. (Alberta Health Services)

Below is a breakdown of COVID-19 in each health zone in Alberta:

• Calgary Zone
  • 234,629 cases
  • 411 in hospital, 10 in ICU
  • 1,252 deaths (24 new)
• Edmonton Zone
  • 186,160 cases
  • 344 in hospital, 15 in ICU
  • 1,729 deaths (13 new)
• North Zone
  • 62,954 cases
  • 90 in hospital, two in ICU
  • 548 deaths (seven new)
• Central Zone
  • 59,161 cases
  • 134 in hospital, one in ICU
  • 581 deaths (six new)
• South Zone
  • 37,809 cases
  • 61 in hospital, three in ICU
  • 397 deaths (five new)

Below is a breakdown of COVID-19 in the South Health Zone:

• Lethbridge – 13,102 cases (38 new), 108 deaths (two new)
  • West Lethbridge – 4,971 cases (14 new), 14 deaths
  • South Lethbridge – 4,113 cases (14 new), 64 deaths (one new)
  • North Lethbridge – 4,029 cases (11 new), 30 deaths (one new)
• Medicine Hat – 7,984 cases (79 new), 98 deaths (one new)
• Brooks – 2,743 cases (12 new), 33 deaths
• Lethbridge County – 2,856 cases (12 new), 24 deaths
• Cardston County – 2,793 cases (five new), 48 deaths
• M.D. of Taber – 1,751 cases (seven new), 21 deaths (one new)
• M.D. of Pincher Creek – 1,303 cases (two new), 15 deaths
• Cypress County – 1,256 cases (two new), seven deaths
• County of Warner – 1,185 cases (15 new), nine deaths
• Fort Macleod – 875 cases, eight deaths
• County of Newell – 685 cases (four new), 10 deaths
• County of Forty Mile – 455 cases (seven new), five deaths
• Crowsnest Pass – 414 cases (one new), five deaths (one new)
• Waterton – eight cases, zero deaths