Three St. Albert residents have died from COVID-19, according to the province.
Provincial data current from Jan. 30 showed three more people have died from COVID, bringing the total number of local deaths from the virus to 59.
The province reported a slight increase in active COVID cases in St. Albert. Data showed 598 active COVID cases compared to 595 reported last week.
Another person died of COVID in Sturgeon County this weekend, according to the province. To date, 16 people in the county have died from the virus. The province reported 253 active COVID cases in Sturgeon County, an increase of 34 since last week.
Morinville's active COVID cases have also increased over the past week. Provincial data reported 77 active COVID cases in the community. The number of Morinville residents who have died from the virus remained at 14.
Hospitalizations have also increased since last week. The province reported 1,516 people with COVID in the hospital across Alberta, compared to 1,469 on Thursday, however, the number of people with the virus who are in ICU fell to 99 from 106.
Overall, 3,566 Albertans have died from the virus, to date.
Province-wide active COVID cases had also fallen, according to data from Jan. 30. On Monday the province reported 37,468 active COVID, cases compared to 44,301 reported last week.
The positivity rate remained high, at 36.38 per cent.
During a Jan. 27 COVID update, Alberta's chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw reminded Albertans about isolation requirements.
The greatest risk of transmission for the virus is a few days before and a few days after symptoms start, but it is still possible to transmit the virus after 10 days.
If a person is not fully immunized, they must isolate at home, away from others, for 10 days, she said.
A person who has been immunized with two or three doses must isolate away from others for five days from the first day of symptoms or the day of a positive test result.
From day six, a person can leave home but must wear a well-fitting medical or a three-layer cotton mask to complete the rest of the 10 days of isolation.
“This means that in this time period you are not able to remove your mask to eat or drink with or near others,” said Hinshaw.
After the 10 days have passed there are no longer any requirements.
Hinshaw said there is no need for people to contact their family doctor with results from a positive COVID test unless they are high risk or experiencing moderate symptoms.
Those who are moderate or high risk should contact their physician so a treatment path can be established.
Hinshaw said she has heard that some Albertans think they need a doctor’s note to be eligible for benefits or sick time at work when they have COVID.
“If you are applying for the Canada Recovery Sick Benefit or the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, a note is not required as long as you meet the eligibility criteria,” she said.
If COVID was contracted at work because of regular job duties, WCB support may be available.
“They accept a positive PCR or rapid test result or a doctor’s diagnosis as part of their claim process, so a doctor’s note is not required if you have a positive test result,” she said.
Hinshaw asked employers not to require individuals with mild COVID symptoms to get a COVID-19 test or a doctor’s note to be eligible for sick time.
“Please support sick employees at this time of high transmission to stay home with no testing or doctor’s note requirements,” she said.
Hinshaw announced a change to PCR testing during the Thursday update.
Children under the age of two can now get a COVID-19 test through an Alberta Health assessment centre.
“This is a pragmatic approach, since rapid tests are currently not licensed for use in children under the age of two,” said Hinshaw.
Hinshaw said the ability to be tested affects the length of isolation time, as children under two can’t be immunized.
If the child is symptomatic and tests positive for COVID-19, the child will need to isolate for 10 days.
If the child is symptomatic and tests negative, the child can leave isolation once symptoms resolve.
