More Albertans are now in ICU with COVID-19 than ever before and it's expected to get worse for weeks
CBC
Alberta's fourth wave of COVID-19 has put the greatest strain on the province's health-care system to date, with about 200 patients now being treated in intensive care units and internal modelling suggesting the situation could get worse for weeks to come.
New data released Monday afternoon by Alberta Health shows 198 patients in ICU across the province, eclipsing the previous high of 182 set back in May, amid the pandemic's third wave. Meanwhile, Alberta Health Services (AHS) — the arm's-length agency that administers health care in the province — said Monday there were 202 COVID-19 patients in ICU. The exact numbers can fluctuate hour-by-hour so the precise count can vary depending on when it is taken. Alberta's health-care system typically includes 173 general, adult ICU beds but the actual capacity has expanded and contracted at various points during the pandemic, as hospital space is reconfigured and health-care staff are redeployed. AHS said Monday 113 additional ICU spaces were available on top of the regular beds, for a total capacity of 286. These beds are not just used to treat COVID-19 patients, but also people suffering from a wide variety of ailments, injuries and post-surgery complications. All told, AHS said there were 256 patients in ICU as of Monday.
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If you live in or around Toronto, you may want to keep that shovel nearby.