Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw reported an estimated 1,100 COVID-19 cases for Dec. 23.
Hinshaw reported that the province completed close to 15,600 COVID-19 tests between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, with a test positivity rate of 7 per cent.
Hinshaw noted that hospitalizations across the province increased, while ICU numbers held steady. As of Dec. 22, there were 821 people in the hospital, including 146 in ICU across the province.
Hinshaw acknowledged in her remarks Wednesday that it will be a tough holiday and a different holiday for Albertans. She noted it will be difficult, but necessary to help reduce the spread of the virus.
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“I wish for all of us the strength, patience and determination to remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19 in the coming months and to look out for one another,” she said.
“Unfortunately, simply wishing won’t make it so. It is up to each of us to do our part. This has been a challenging year and I recognize the holidays will be tough for many. Let’s all treat each other with extra understanding and compassion.”
Over the next several days, the province will share only modified case data and will not include stats on new deaths.
As of Wednesday’s update, Red Deer had 358 active cases of COVID-19, 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 in this week’s reporting, down to 78 cases after being over 100 just last week. Sylvan Lake is also down significantly, with just 20 active cases after reporting 70 in the Dec. 3 update.
Here is today’s #COVID19AB modified update:
— Dr. Deena Hinshaw (@CMOH_Alberta) December 24, 2020
On Dec. 23 there were an estimated:
- 1100 cases
- 15,600 laboratory tests
- 7% positivity
- hospitalizations - increasing
- ICU - stable
Preliminary info will be shared again on Dec.26
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.
Camrose had 55 active and Camrose County had 17 active.
Ponoka County, County of Wetaskiwin and the City of Wetaskiwin have 476 active cases combined.
According to Wednesday’s update, close to 35 per cent of the 93,781 total cases of COVID-19 cases in the province have impacted adults between the ages of 20-40.
The average age of someone dying from the virus in the province is 82, while the average age for an ICU stay is 59. The average age for someone to be hospitalized from COVID-19 is 62 and for individuals contracting the virus but not needing hospitalization is 37 years old.
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