The province has provided its latest COVID-19 update.
Premier Jason Kenney joined chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw Tuesday (Sept. 21) evening. According to Kenney, within 72 hours of the province announcing new public health measures last Wednesday, 78,000 doses of vaccine were administered.
He also thanked the outgoing minister of health, Tyler Shandro, for his service over the last two years. Shandro stepped down as minister and will now serve as the minister of labour and immigration. Jason Copping, a first-time MLA, will serve as Alberta’s new health minister.
Hinshaw said the province would be expanding its third-dose eligibility for immunocompromised Albertans, including individuals with advanced HIV infection, immunodeficiency syndromes and patients receiving high-dose systemic corticosteroids.
“The data shows that individuals with certain immunocompromising conditions do not develop as robust of an immune response from two doses and benefit from a third dose. Evidence is still emerging on third doses for the broader population, and we continue to monitor the situation. We will adapt our approach as new evidence emerges,” she explained.
1,519 new cases of the virus were reported in the province Tuesday; currently, there are 20,917 active cases of COVID-19 in Alberta.
996 people are in the hospital, and 222 are in intensive care.
The province also reported 29 new deaths. A total of 2,574 Albertans have now passed away from COVID-19.
Local numbers as of today, Sept 22/21:
County of GP: 223 active cases
City of GP: 534 active cases
A total of 5.85-million doses of the vaccine have now been administered in the province; 81.4 per cent of eligible Albertans have received at least one dose, while 72.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.