COVID-19 transmission increase in Alberta 'not unexpected,' Copping says

The province updated its data on Wednesday and Health Minister Jason Copping focused on two leading indicators: positivity rate and wastewater.

Alberta's COVID-19 positivity rate saw a "slight increase" last week.

The province updated its data on Wednesday and Health Minister Jason Copping focused on two leading indicators: positivity rate and wastewater.

Between Tuesday, March 22 and Monday, March 28, Alberta's positivity rate ranged between 21.7 and 27.1 per cent, with an average of 24.5 per cent. The previous average was 22 per cent.

Wastewater also shows a rise in COVID-19 transmission, Copping said, but added the indicator "can be highly variable."

"Given that we lifted the vast majority of public health measures over the last seven weeks, it is not unexpected that we're seeing a slight increase in transmission of COVID across the province. There are simply more opportunities for the virus to spread," Copping said.

Alberta reported 4,612 COVID-19 cases and 30 deaths in the seven-day period.

There are 964 people with COVID-19 in hospital, including 47 in intensive care.