Three deaths, 28 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed on Thursday, recoveries up to 592

Twenty-eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were announced by chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw in Alberta on Thursday.

Three additional deaths have happened in the past 24 hours, for a total of 32.

The recoveries have increased by 74, which means 592 Albertans have resolved symptoms of COVID-19.

As of 4:20pm Thursday, there remains four active cases of the virus in the Bonnyville area.

The Cold Lake and Bonnyville areas have seen three recoveries each.

Dr. Hinshaw said 1,333 tests were done in the past day and likely more to come with the expansion of who the province will test.

Yesterday, testing was expanded to include all residents of the Calgary Zone who have a cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat or shortness of breath.

Also, testing is now open to essential workers across the province with any of the same symptoms, anyone’s worksite that has not been shut down.

Anyone with those symptoms and lives with someone 65 or older is also eligible for testing.

Long term care facilities have seen 151 cases of residents and staff.

Dr. Hinshaw also reported that the number of influenza cases is way down from the typical numbers that are seen at this time of the year, which could be a sign that physical distancing measures are working.

The province’s COVID-19 modelling announced on Tuesday night shows in a probable scenario between 300-4,100 deaths could occur with up to 800,000 infections and a peak in mid-May.