Alberta hospitalizations improving but health minister warns 'COVID has not gone away'

Alberta announced 838 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of known active cases to 19,050.

Alberta announced 838 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of known active cases to 19,050.

Due to eligibility requirements for PCR testing, the actual numbers are higher.

There are currently 1,538 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 123 people in intensive care. Over the last 24 hours, 14 people have died due to COVID-19.

“COVID has not gone away, it’s still causing severe illness and death, especially in the oldest and most vulnerable people and people who are not yet vaccinated,” said Jason Copping, Alberta’s health minister. “But at a system level, the current wave is not causing hospital admissions in excess of the levels we would see in a normal winter.”

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital has been dropping since Feb. 7, added Copping. New admissions to hospital due to COVID-19 have also been dropping over the past three weeks.

“The reopening plan depends on these trends continuing, if they don’t, we’ll take the actions necessary, including re-imposing restrictions,” said Copping.

The province has been monitoring virus levels in wastewater, calling it a “leading indicator” of COVID-19 data. According to Copping, the data showed that the Omicron wave in Alberta was passing three weeks ago.