Fewer cases but more deaths

In the latest COVID-19 update the province reported an overall decrease in cases. However another 96 people have died of the virus since Dec. 29.

As of Jan. 4, there are a total of 13,839 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in Alberta. This is a decrease of 716 cases since Dec. 29. In her update last week, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw cautioned that lower case numbers were likely to be linked to reduced testing for the virus over the holidays.

Case counts for the Lakeland region were updated late in the day on Jan. 4.

St. Paul, Smoky Lake, and Bonnyville all saw numbers continue to rise, while the County of Vermilion River and the City of Cold Lake saw modest decreases to their active cases. The M.D. of Bonnyville also recorded its first COVID-19 death.

Both maps are accessed through the Geospatial tab of https://www.alberta.ca/stats/covid-19-alberta-statistics.htm

According to a note below the map, location information is missing or invalid for 375 cases.

A number of healthcare facilities in the Lakeland are experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19 according to the listings on the province’s website. Specific case counts associated with the outbreaks are not available at this time and outbreaks are not removed from the listing until four weeks pass without any new cases.

In St. Paul, the St. Paul Abilities Network, Extendicare St. Paul, and St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre are all listed as having active outbreaks.

George McDougall – Smoky Lake Healthcare Centre, William J. Cadzow – Lac La Biche Healthcare Centre, and Bar-V-Nook Manor in Smoky Lake also have outbreaks.

A number of oil facilities in the Lakeland have also experienced outbreaks, including Cenovus Foster Creek and Imperial Oil, both in Cold Lake.