COVID-19 cases have continued to climb in St. Albert, according to this week's update from the province.
Data released on April 20 and gathered by the province from April 12 to April 18 showed the seven-day case rate per 100,000 was 217, compared to 168.1 reported last week.
St. Albert reported 151 new cases during that seven-day period, up from 117 reported on April 13.
The province reported no new COVID-19-related deaths in St. Albert. The total number of St. Albert residents who have died during the pandemic remains at 73.
The seven-day case rate per 100,000 in Sturgeon County was 121.7 — a significant decrease from the 214.8 reported on April 13.
The number of new cases in the county over the seven-day period was 34 — nearly half of the 60 cases reported in the county on April 13.
The total number of people who have died from the virus in Sturgeon County remains at 18.
Morinville saw an increase in the seven-day new case rate per 100,000. The province reported 201.5 cases per 100,000 on April 20, compared to the 140.2 seven-day case rate per 100,000 reported on April 13.
There were 23 new COVID cases during the seven-day period in Morinville.
Fifteen Morinville residents have died from COVID since the beginning of the pandemic.
Health Minister Jason Copping spoke about the broad trends in data the province has been seeing with the virus during an update on April 21.
“There are increases in virus circulation and hospital admissions, but they're smaller and moving more slowly than we saw in the initial Omicron wave,” he said.
Copping said the province is seeing impact with the BA.2 subvariant, but it has had a much smaller impact than what was seen with BA.1 a few months ago.
The province has not seen the same impact on hospitalizations as it has in past COVID waves, although hospitalizations have ticked up three per cent to 1,126.
“That follows a similar increase from the week before. However, we have fewer Albertans in ICU due to COVID this week: 43 compared to 46,” Copping said.
There are early signs that BA.2 infections may be plateauing, said the health minister. The average positivity rate of PCR tests was 25.9 per cent over the past seven days compared to the previous week’s average of 26.6 per cent.
“Wastewater levels are high in many locations, but they mostly remain below the levels we've seen previously during BA.1,” he said.
Copping emphasized the importance of getting COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots.
“Some people may be thinking, ‘I'll wait and get that third dose if things get really bad again.’ Please don't wait,” said Copping.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said Thursday the data clearly shows that vaccines are critically important in lowering the risk of death and hospitalization from the virus.
“If we look at everyone in Alberta age five and up in the last four months, those who were not vaccinated were more than three times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID 19 and almost eight times more likely to be admitted to ICU than those who had three doses of vaccine,” Hinshaw said.
Copping said COVID-19 treatments are also available, but they must begin within five days of the onset of symptoms, with a positive COVID-19 test result and assessment from a health-care professional.
The province has about 16,000 courses of treatment on hand, and 10,000 more are expected to arrive in the coming days.
Around 1,000 packs of COVID prescriptions had been dispensed as of April 18, Copping said — an increase from the 720 dispensed last week.
Hinshaw reminded Albertans that COVID isolation requirements in the province remain the same.
“If you test positive or have symptoms of COVID-19, you are required to isolate at home and away from others,” she said.
People who have had two or more doses of a COVID vaccine are required to isolate for five days or until their symptoms resolve, while those with one or no doses are required to isolate for 10 days or until symptoms resolve.
“Even if you test negative, please stay home and away from others until you are feeling better. This means not going to work, school, or any other activities outside the home,” she said.
Between April 12 and April 18 an average of seven people died per day related to COVID-19. Altogether, 4,190 Albertans have died from COVID during the pandemic.
