50 active cases in Cold Lake area as COVID positives increase

The province is deciding tonight on new restrictions that are expected to be announced Tuesday.

Twelve new COVID cases have been reported in the Cold Lake area on Monday afternoon on the AHS COVID data map, which leaves 50 active cases and 35 recoveries.

In roughly a week, active cases have increased in the Cold Lake area by 39.

Lakeland Connect has reached out to AHS about the reported outbreak at Imperial Oil’s Cold Lake operations.

Seven new cases are reported in the St. Paul-Saddle Lake local geographic area, leaving a total of 88 active cases and 133 recoveries. There are 69 cases active in Saddle Lake and 165 have been recorded to date by the Nation’s Events, News, and Information page.

In the Bonnyville area, one new infection was reported, 25 active cases and 47 recovered.

No new cases have been reported from BCHS.

Aurora Middle School in Lac La Biche has now seen four positive cases stem from the school. It is closed Monday, and students who have not been identified as close contacts will be allowed to return to school Tuesday.

There are 21 active cases in the Lac La Biche area and 12 recoveries, an increase in three cases.

In the Smoky Lake area, there is 11 active cases and 20 recoveries.

In the local geographic area of Vermilion, there are 10 active cases, but only one is active within the municipality. The rest are cases that reside in Lloydminster of the County of Minburn.

One case is active in the Two Hills County area.

Second highest single-day case increase

On Monday, chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw reported 1549 new COVID positive cases from 19,500 total tests.

There are 328 Albertans in the hospital due to the virus, 62 of which are in intensive care.

Five new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours putting the death toll at 476 in the province.

Dr. Hinshaw said the province has an eight per cent positivity rate at the moment.

It is expected new restrictions will be announced Tuesday.