COVID-19. (Dreamstime)

By David Opinko

updated number added

474 new COVID cases in Alberta; fewer tests conducted but positivity rate falls slightly

Jan 18, 2021 | 3:46 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta Health Services has released its COVID-19 update for Monday, detailing the numbers compiled over the past 24 hours.

474 cases were confirmed across the province, bringing the total to 117,311. Of those, 11,923 cases are active while 103,941 people have recovered.

8,500 tests were conducted over the past day. While this number is smaller than normal, the provincial positivity rate has fallen slightly to 5.4 per cent.

In the South Zone, 16 people contracted the virus including five in Pincher Creek.

Active infections both regionally and in Lethbridge stayed relatively flat.

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Since yesterday’s update, 11 Albertans died from COVID, meaning the virus has claimed the lives of 1,447.

Dr. Hinshaw says that number is smaller than we have seen in recent weeks. While this is certainly encouraging, she believes it is not a sign that Albertans should let their guards down.

She gave an additional piece of context for COVID-19 deaths by comparing it to influenza.

“It is important to keep in mind that, in the last 10 years, the average annual recorded death toll from influenza has been 58 deaths per year, so having lost an additional 11 people to COVID-19, which amounts to almost 20 per cent of an average full year of influenza data, should not be taken lightly.”

Provincially, 739 patients are currently hospitalized and 120 have been admitted to intensive care.

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 health zone:

• Edmonton Zone – 49,307 cases, 4,237 active
  • 366 in hospital, 47 in ICU
  • 760 deaths (five new)
• Calgary Zone – 44,847 cases, 4,463 active
  • 212 in hospital, 49 in ICU
  • 463 deaths (five new)
• North Zone – 9,237 cases, 1,636 active
  • 73 in hospital, eight in ICU
  • 88 deaths (one new)
• Central Zone – 8,242 cases, 1,148 active
  • 60 in hospital, 10 in ICU
  • 70 deaths
• South Zone – 5,541 cases, 413 active
  • 28 in hospital, six in ICU
  • 66 deaths

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

• Brooks – 1,361 cases, eight active, 14 deaths
• Lethbridge – 1,587 cases (three new), 143 active, 10 deaths
  • West Lethbridge – 573 cases (two new), 43 active, two deaths
  • South Lethbridge – 532 cases (one new), 63 active, seven deaths
  • North Lethbridge – 484 cases, 37 active, one death
• Medicine Hat – 516 cases (one new), 36 active, 11 deaths
• Lethbridge County – 484 cases (two new), 27 active, seven deaths
• Cardston County – 398 cases (one new), 108 active, six deaths
• M.D. of Taber – 324 cases, seven active, six deaths
• County of Warner – 154 cases, 10 active, two deaths
• County of Newell – 150 cases (two new), five active, two deaths
• M.D. of Pincher Creek – 146 cases (five new), 29 active, three deaths
• Cypress County – 144 cases, three active, zero deaths
• County of Forty Mile – 116 cases, two active, two deaths
• Fort Macleod – 88 cases (two new), 19 active, three deaths
• Crowsnest Pass – 18 cases, six active, zero deaths