COVID-19. (Dreamstime)

By David Opinko

AHS limiting hospital visitations due to COVID influx

Nov 25, 2020 | 3:52 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta Health Services has released Wednesday’s report on COVID-19, covering statistics from the past 24 hours.

1,265 cases were confirmed across the province, bringing the total to 50,801. Of those, 13,719 cases are active while 36,582 people have recovered.

Approximately 80 percent of the new cases were in the Edmonton and Calgary Zones who had 560 and 444 positive tests each.

In the South Zone, there were 55 new cases. Lethbridge had the most at 24 while Lethbridge County had 10 and the M.D. of Taber had nine.

Nine Albertans have died since yesterday’s update include seven in the Edmonton Zone and two in the Calgary Zone.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Today’s report means Alberta has reached two new milestones for COVID-19. Cases have surpassed 50,000 to date and 500 people have died.

Currently, 355 patients are hospitalized provincially and 71 have been admitted to intensive care.

“The daily rise in daily COVID-19 cases, as well as the growing number and extent of outbreaks in acute care facilities across the province, continues to be concerning,” says Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

In the coming weeks, AHS will allocate more than 2,000 acute care beds and up to 400 ICU beds specifically for those with COVID-19. In some cases, these will be new spots, while in others, existing beds will be utilized.

Dr. Hinshaw announced the following changes to hospital admissions:

“Effective today, AHS is also changing visitor access to acute care sites that are on outbreak or in communities that are under enhanced status.

“For patients admitted to hospital and in ambulatory care, including emergency departments, only one designated family or support person is permitted under specific circumstances.”

“For maternity and postpartum units, one designated family or support person will be permitted. A doula or surrogate may also be permitted.”

“For pediatrics and NICU, as well as critical care, up to two designated family or support persons are permitted.”

“In end of life situations, one designated family or support person is permitted and the presence of any other visitors must be pre-arranged with the site or unit.”

The regional breakdown for COVID-19 in Alberta is as follows:

• Calgary zone – 21,053 cases, 5,028 active
  • 188 deaths (two new)
  • 121 in hospital, 20 in ICU
• Edmonton zone – 20,252 cases, 6,268 active
  • 215 deaths (seven new)
  • 175 in hospital, 40 in ICU
• South zone – 3,614 cases, 656 active
  • 39 deaths
  • 21 in hospital, five in ICU
• North zone – 3,446 cases, 805 active
  • 44 deaths
  • 21 in hospital, two in ICU
• Central zone – 2,262 cases, 878 active
  • 14 deaths
  • 17 in hospital, four in ICU

The breakdown for the South Health Zone by community is as follows:

• Brooks – 1,272 cases (one new), 43 active, 12 deaths
• Lethbridge – 910 cases (24 new), 189 active, seven deaths
  • West Lethbridge – 358 cases (14 new), 61 active, two deaths
  • South Lethbridge – 301 cases (three new), 59 active, three deaths
  • North Lethbridge – 251 cases (seven new), 69 active, two deaths
• Lethbridge County – 305 cases (10 new), 69 active, two deaths
• Medicine Hat – 231 cases (three new), 100 active, two deaths
• M.D. of Taber – 213 cases (nine new), 101 active, two deaths
• Cardston County – 157 cases (one new), 34 active, five deaths
• Cypress County – 113 cases, 33 active
• County of Warner – 103 cases (five new), 22 active, one death
• County of Newell – 97 cases (one new), 21 active, two deaths
• County of Forty Mile – 96 cases, 17 active, one death
• Fort Macleod – 47 cases, nine active, three deaths
• M.D. of Pincher Creek – 35 cases, four active, two deaths
• Crowsnest Pass – Five cases, two active