The province reported a slight increase in St. Albert COVID-19 cases this week.
Data from the province reported on April 6, shows the seven-day case rate per 100,000 for St. Albert was 153.8, compared to the seven-day case rate of 116.4 reported March 30.
The total number of new cases in St. Albert from March 29 to April 4 was 107, up from the 81 COVID cases reported on March 30.
A total of 73 St. Albertans have died from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the province.
Sturgeon County has seen a slight decrease in active COVID cases since the last report.
The seven-day case rate per 100,000 for Sturgeon County was 111, down from the 114.6 reported on March 30.
Sturgeon County's had 31 new active COVID cases from March 29 to April 4. The number of new cases reported on March 30 was 32.
The total number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Sturgeon County is 18, as reported by the province.
Morinville also saw a decrease in COVID cases last week.
Data from the province showed the seven-day case rate per 100,000 for Morinville was 131.4, down from the 157.7 reported on March 30.
Fifteen Morinville residents have died from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
In an April 7 COVID update, Health Minister Jason Copping said there was a slight increase in leading COVID indicators, positivity-rate PCR tests, and wastewater.
“It’s a concern, and we are monitoring it closely, but it remains to be seen how much more increase we will see, in particular, how that will translate into serious illness and hospital admissions,” Copping said.
Copping said the average PCR rate for the province was 26.3 per cent.
Hospitalizations in the province have increased slightly, said Copping, but the number of patients in ICU with COVID has decreased slightly.
The province reported 990 hospitalizations, current from April 4. Of those, 44 people were reportedly in ICU.
“We can expect some increase in virus circulation as we get back to normal life and we can expect some increase in admissions,” said Copping.
Data from the province, current from April 4, showed 4,104 people have died from COVID.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said there was an average of four deaths per day from March 29 to April 4.
The province has expanded eligibility for fourth doses of COVID vaccines to all residents and seniors in congregate care facilities; anyone aged 70 and older; and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people aged 65 and older. Starting April 12, anyone in the expanded category, five months from their last shot, can book their fourth dose.
The province has also expanded eligibility to anyone who needs a fourth dose for travel purposes.
The province announced it is set to receive 10,000 doses of Novavax, a non-mRNA COVID vaccine. Starting April 12, anyone 18 and older can call 811 and book an appointment.
Eligibility for Paxlovid has been expanded to include, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people 45 and older who are unvaccinated or who have received one dose of a COVID vaccine, and all individuals living in continuing care.
Paxlovid is an oral antiviral used to treat mild or moderate COVID-19. Paxlovid was first approved in Canada on Jan. 18. The antiviral, which comes in pill form and is prescribed by physicians, initially became available for some Albertans on Jan. 31.
