Alberta experienced a “small increase” in COVID-19 hospitalizations over Christmas, says the province’s chief medical officer of health.
On Saturday morning, Dr. Deena Hinshaw tweeted a modified update, featuring an estimated number of new cases.
On Christmas Eve, an estimated 1,200 new cases were reported and 17,800 laboratory tests were completed. On Christmas Day, there was an estimated 900 new cases, with 14,200 laboratory tests.
There was a small increase in hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions, said Hinshaw.
Full updates, which includes geospatial mapping, are not being provided over the Christmas holidays. Instead, the provincial government is sharing only modified case data, which does not include stats on new COVID-19-related deaths.
Another preliminary update will be shared Sunday.
In the most recent full update on Wednesday, Red Deer had 358 active cases of COVID-19, which was the lowest total for the city since Dec. 7 when the city had 355 active cases. At its peak this month, Red Deer had 434 active cases.
Red Deer County also dipped to 78 cases, after being over 100 just last week. Sylvan Lake was also down significantly, with just 20 active cases after reporting 70 in a Dec. 3 update.
Lacombe County had 41 active cases as of the last update, Mountain View County had 33 and Kneehill County had 22 active. Clearwater County had 36 active. Lacombe had 24 active, Sylvan Lake had 20 active and Olds had 29 active.
Ponoka County, County of Wetaskiwin and the City of Wetaskiwin had 476 active cases combined.
Send your news tips
Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter