Jan. 20 Covid-19 update
Wednesday, 20 January 2021. Posted in Shootin' the Breeze
Five new cases for Pincher Creek region,
Crowsnest Pass unchanged
South zone Covid-19 update
compiled from Alberta Health Services data
by Shannon Robison, Publisher of Shootin' the Breeze
In her update today, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical of health, spoke about vaccine safety, hospitalizations, quarantine requirements for close contacts and outdoor social gathering at continuing-care facilities.
Of more than 95,000 doses of vaccine administered so far, there have been 18 adverse events. This includes six allergic reactions and other symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting or rash.
She said every dose administered is monitored.
"I'm providing regular updates on this because I want Albertans to understand that we are watching closely and that the benefits of these vaccines far outweigh the risks," Dr. Hinshaw said.
As of yesterday, 95,243 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Alberta.
She also compared hospitalizations required for influenza to Covid-19.
An average of just over 1,500 Albertans have required hospitalization due to influenza over the past 10 years, while more than 5,000 have needed hospital care since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic last March.
Hospitalizations remain high in the south zone and across the province.
Close contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19 are legally required to quarantine for 14 days, whether they have symptoms or not, and even if they receive a negative test. It can take up to 14 days after exposure for a person to become sick, which is why the full 14-day quarantine is required.
Changes to outdoor gathering restrictions have been made for long-term care, designated and other licenced supportive-living facilities and hospices.
Facility operators are now allowed to use on-site outdoor designated spaces for outdoor visits with a maximum of five people, including the resident.
If residents are able to go off-site, they can participate in an outdoor social gathering with up to nine other people.
"In doing so, the residents may be asked to use additional safety precautions on their return to the facility, so it is good to discuss those before leaving," Dr. Hinshaw said.
Whether visiting on- or off-site, physical distancing must be following and additional precautions, such as wearing a mask at all times during the outing, are recommended to protect the resident who is more vulnerable to Covid-19.
All visits must be pre-arranged and co-ordinated so people are advised to contact facility staff in advance to discuss the best option for safe visits with loved ones.
Easing of restrictions for outdoor gatherings, personal services and funeral attendance started Monday.
All other enhanced public health measures remain in effect until at least Jan. 21, 2021, and must be followed by all Albertans, businesses, organizations, service providers and visitors to the province.
Links to the details for each restriction are included below the south-zone specifics.
Alberta Overview
Tuesday, Jan. 19 – 118,436 total cases
Data updated Wednesday, Jan. 20
669 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in today’s update.
14,888 people were tested, for a provincial positivity rate of about 4.5 per cent.
There are 10,565 active cases, a decrease of 531 from the previous day.
1,179 recoveries brings the total to 106,387 and a recovery rate of about 90 per cent.
744 people are hospitalized with 124 admitted to intensive care units.
21 new Covid-related deaths were reported in the past 24 hours.
1,484 Albertans have now died, and the Covid-19 mortality rate for the province is about 1.3 per cent.
There are 908 active and 7,423 recovered cases at long-term care facilities and supportive/home-living sites. 978 of the 1,484 deaths (66 per cent) have been in these sites.
There are now 252 cases of Covid-19 in total at 169 schools.
167 schools are on alert with a total of 238 cases and two schools have outbreaks with a total of 14 cases.
In-school transmission has likely occurred in 18 schools, with 15 having only one new case as a result.
South Zone Specifics
Tuesday, Jan. 19 – 5,591 total cases
Data updated Wednesday, Jan. 20
33 new cases were reported in today’s update
665 people were tested for a positivity rate of about 5.7 per cent, which is above the provincial rate.
There are 411 active cases, an increase of four from the previous day.
24 recoveries brings the total to 5,109, for a zone recovery rate of about 91 per cent.
31 people are hospitalized with five admitted to intensive care.
68 residents have now died, and Covid-19 has a mortality rate of about 1.2 per cent for the zone.
Today’s update includes the death of a man in his 80s, which is linked to the outbreak at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, and a Lethbridge woman in her 90s. Condolences are extended to family and friends of the deceased.
There are nine outbreak sites across the south, which are detailed in the community breakdown below.
Two south-zone schools have alerts, each with two to four active cases.
Notes:
The zone of current hospitalization and current ICU admission are based on location of hospitalization, not the zone of patient residence. For example, a Pincher Creek resident hospitalized in Calgary would be categorized as an active case in the Pincher Creek region but their hospitalization statistic would show in the Calgary zone.
Outbreaks are normally updated by Alberta Health Tuesdays and Fridays, and declared over when four weeks have passed with no new cases. This means not all outbreaks have current transmission or active cases.
Know the symptoms of Covid-19 and what to do if you, or someone you know, is experiencing them.
Learn about symptoms, testing, isolation and quarantine
Know and understand the restrictions currently in place until at least Jan. 21, 2021:
* All restrictions have been reviewed on Jan. 7 to ensure this is the most up-to-date information available as little tweaks are often made in the background.
Gatherings
Travel and visitors
Wedding and funeral services
Faith services
Retail and home-based businesses
Restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafes
Hotels, motels, hunting and fishing lodges
Personal and wellness services
Health, social and professional services
Entertainment and recreation facilities
Sports and physical activities
Performances
South Zone Community Breakdown
Tuesday, Jan. 19
Data updated Wednesday, Jan. 20
* Indicates a change in statistics since the previous day’s report
Pincher Creek Region – 151 total
31 active, 117 recovered, 3 deaths
* 5 new active, 3 new recoveries
481.3 per 100,000
Pincher Creek Region includes the Town of Pincher Creek; MD of Pincher Creek and its hamlets of Beaver Mines, Lowland Heights, Lundbreck, Pincher Station and Twin Butte; the Village of Cowley and Piikani Nation.
Crowsnest Pass – 18 total
6 active, 12 recovered
94.9 per 100,000
Fort Macleod – 89 total
19 active, 67 recovered, 3 deaths
MD of Willow Creek in Calgary zone = 146.1 per 100,000 (24 active in MD)
Cardston County/Kainai – 410 total
109 active, 295 recovered, 6 deaths
* 9 new active, 5 new recoveries
662.3 per 100,000
Acute-care outbreak – Cardston Health Centre
Declared Jan. 12 by Alberta Health Services. As of Jan. 18, two individuals associated to the facility have tested positive for Covid-19. At this time, visitation to the health centre is restricted to designated family and support persons, and end-of-life situations. AHS encourages families to continue meeting with their loved ones virtually. Restrictions are in place to minimize any risk of transmission to and from outside of the health centre. See https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17001.aspx for more information on family support and visitation.
I.D. Waterton – 0
0 per 100,000 – open status
City of Lethbridge – 1,598 total
137 active, 1,450 recovered, 11 deaths
* 6 new active, 9 new recoveries, 1 new death
Today’s update includes the death of a woman in her 90s in Lethbridge. Condolences are extended to her family and friends.
138.4 per 100,000
Supportive living/home living outbreak — The View at Lethbridge (Jan. 12)
Public outbreak site – SASHA House (Jan. 12), Lethbridge Alpha House, Rehoboth Christian Ministries (Jan. 15)
School outbreak site – Gilbert Paterson Middle School (Jan. 11 – alert with 2 to 4 cases)
Lethbridge County – 491 total
28 active, 456 recovered, 7 deaths
* 4 new active, 1 new recoveries
111 per 100,000
Supportive living/home living outbreak — Bethesda Care Home in Picture Butte (Dec. 22)
Public outbreak sites – Rehoboth Christian Ministries in Coaldale (Jan. 8)
County of Warner – 157 total
11 active, 144 recovered, 2 deaths
* 2 new active
100.1 per 100,000
MD of Taber – 328 total
11 active, 311 recovered, 6 deaths
* 3 new active
58.3 per 100,000
City of Brooks – 1,361 total
7 active, 1,340 recovered, 14 deaths
* 1 new recovery
36.3 per 100,000
County of Newell – 153 total
8 active, 143 recovered, 2 deaths
* 1 new active
98.9 per 100,000
County of Forty Mile – 116 total
2 active, 112 recovered, 2 deaths
31 per 100,000
Cypress County – 144 total
2 active, 142 recovered
* 1 new recovery
26.7 per 100,000
School outbreak site – Seven Persons School (Jan. 18 – alert with 2 to 4 cases)
City of Medicine Hat – 520 total
34 active, 474 recovered, 12 deaths
* 4 new active, 4 new recoveries, 1 new death
Today’s update includes the death of a man in his 80s, which is linked to the outbreak at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. Condolences are extended to his family and friends.
50 per 100,000
Supportive living/home living outbreak site – Meadowlands
Acute-care outbreak – Medicine Hat Regional Hospital
Declared Jan. 14 by Alberta Health Services. As of Jan. 18, three patients and two healthcare workers associated to this unit have tested positive for Covid-19. At this time, visitation to the unit is restricted to designated family and support persons, and end-of-life situations. AHS encourages families to continue meeting with their loved ones virtually. Restrictions are in place to minimize any risk of transmission to and from outside of the health centre. See https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17001.aspx for more information on family support and visitation.
Oyen region – 42 total
9 active, 33 recovered
* 1 new recovery
Special Area 3 – 244.8 per 100,000 (7 active in area)
MD of Acadia – 815.2 per 100,000 (3 active in MD population of 368)
Special Area 2 – 87.8 per 100,000 (4 active in area, not all of which is in south zone)
Alberta Information by Zone
Tuesday, Jan. 19
Data updated Wednesday, Jan. 20
* Indicates a change in statistics since the previous day’s report
Calgary Zone
45,340 confirmed cases +255
4,096 active cases -153
40,767 recovered cases +401
217 in hospital
54 in intensive care
477 deaths +7
Edmonton Zone
49,664 confirmed cases +253
3,679 active cases -196
45,213 recovered cases +439
363 in hospital
46 in intensive care
772 deaths +10
Central Zone
8,330 confirmed cases +48
949 active cases -101
7,305 recovered cases +148
59 in hospital
10 in intensive care
76 deaths +1
South Zone
5,591 confirmed cases +33
411 active cases +4
5,109 recovered cases +24
31 in hospital
5 in intensive care
68 deaths +2
North Zone
9,381 confirmed cases +78
1,411 active cases -88
7,879 recovered cases +165
74 in hospital
9 in intensive care
91 deaths +1
Unknown Zone
130 confirmed cases
16 active cases
114 recovered cases
0 deaths
