The provincial government has given its last update on COVID-19 for 2021.
Health minister Jason Copping announced a change to the isolation period for people with COVID-19 going forward. Those who have received two doses of the vaccine, and have the virus, will need to isolate for a minimum of five days (or anytime their symptoms clear up after the five days). It was previously 10 days.
The decision was made in an effort to reduce the impact on the workforce and encourage more people to follow the isolation restrictions.
The changes come into effect on Monday (Jan. 3).
Alberta's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, also reminds everyone to keep gathering numbers low this New Year's Eve. The current restrictions only allow for 10 adults to gather indoors.
The most recent data shows 17,396 active COVID-19 cases in the province. There are 349 people hospitalized by the virus and 57 in the ICU.
A total of 3,310 deaths so far.
There have been 7.59-million doses of the vaccine administered with 85.2 per cent of the population 12 years old and older being fully vaccinated.
Local update
For the local area, here are the number of active cases as of Friday (Dec. 31):
Fort Saskatchewan: 89 cases
Sherwood Park: 466 cases
Strathcona County: 158 cases
Sturgeon County: 117 cases
Morinville: 18 cases
Lamont County: four cases
The total per cent of people over five who are fully immunized:
Fort Saskatchewan: 78.8 per cent
Sherwood Park: 83.6 per cent
Strathcona County: 78.7 per cent
Sturgeon County West (including Morinville): 74.1 per cent
Sturgeon County East: 72.8 per cent
Lamont County: 70.1 per cent