Alberta Health Department announces 366 new COVID-19 cases identified in last 24 hours

There have been 366 new COVID-19 cases identified in Alberta in the past 24 hours, according to a pandemic update on the provincial government’s website on Thursday afternoon.

By province, Alberta’s positivity rate was 3.88% on Thursday.

The total number of deaths from COVID-19 in Alberta also increased to 3,257, an increase of two from a day earlier.

However, the total number of active coronavirus infections in the province fell to 4,539 on Thursday, down from 4,619 a day earlier. The Calgary area has more active COVID-19 cases than any other region in the province (1,765), followed by the Edmonton area (1,164), the Northern region (709), the Central region (567). and the southern region (328). There are six active cases that have not been linked to any particular region.

According to Alberta Health, the number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals in Alberta fell slightly to 419 on Thursday, down from 424 on Wednesday. Of the coronavirus-related hospitalizations, 76 patients are being treated in intensive care units, down from 79 patients a day earlier.

READ MORE: Alberta makes COVID-19 vaccine booster available to everyone 18 years of age and older; 60 people or more can book by Thursday

Thursday marks the first day that all Albertans age 60 and older can make an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as long as it has been at least six months since they received their second dose.

Health Minister Jason Copping tweeted a reminder on Thursday that some Albertans are already eligible for a booster COVID-19 vaccine.

READ MORE: Will the COVID-19 booster shots protect the Omicron variant? Experts undecided

The province did not provide an update on the new Omicron COVID-19 variant on Thursday. On Tuesday, Alberta’s chief medical officer, Dr Deena Hinshaw, said the province had confirmed its first case of the worrying variant.

READ MORE: Alberta identifies first case of Omicron COVID-19 variant in returning travelers

She said a person returning from Nigeria and the Netherlands “about a week ago” tested positive for the Omicron variant while showing no symptoms.

On Wednesday, Hinshaw announced two more cases related to the Omicron variant had been identified in Alberta.

View links »