COVID-19 in Alberta on Friday, Jan. 21

The province's three highest hospitalization counts to date have all come in the last three days, including yesterday’s 1,131.

Alberta appears poised to set another record count of COVID-19 patients in hospital later on Friday afternoon. 

The three highest hospitalization counts to date have all come in the last three days, including yesterday’s 1,131. 

Regular data revisions to account for reporting delays and accuracy mean that number will likely grow later this afternoon.

Among those 1,131 are 108 patients in intensive care units, an increase of 28 from a week prior. 

Emerging data from AHS shows that most people hospitalized during the Omicron wave need only five days of care, compared to 10 when Delta was the dominant variant of concern.

Despite shorter stays and incidental infections, Copping said patients with COVID-19 still need care, and that hospital staff need to abide by protocols, creating staffing challenges.

Premier Jason Kenney said that the health system is operating at 89 per cent capacity, with some individual hospitals and health zones closer to 100 per cent of local capacity.