COVID-19

Daily vaccine doses nearly tripled on Sept. 16, as more than 3.1 million Albertans are now vaccinated with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition, 72 per cent of eligible Albertans are now fully immunized with both doses, helping protect their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Increasing hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions among unvaccinated Albertans are challenging the health system that all Albertans rely on.

For the first time since May, Alberta has surpassed the 2000 mark in daily new COVID cases. 

There were 2,020 new COVID-19 cases reported in the past 24 hours.

Hospitalizations increased by another 15 patients for a total of 911. 

There was a decrease of seven ICU patients to 215.

Sadly, there were 18 COVID deaths reported for a total of 2,523.

There are now 19,201 active cases in the province. 

The Delta variant is causing a powerful fourth wave in Alberta with hospitals buckling under the rising numbers.

The town continues to examine the impact of the COVID restrictions and expects to be sharing more information next week.

Town Chief Administrative Officer Mike Derricott has issued the following statement.

“The Town of Cochrane continues to navigate the new provincial restrictions, and how they affect our community.

Our primary goal is to protect public health and safety while ensuring resident services and supports are in compliance with these measures.

New COVID-19 cases in Winnipeg and Southern Health make up most of Friday's new COVID-19 cases.

As of Friday morning, there are 88 new COVID-19 cases. 

New cases include:

• 30 in Southern Health Sante Sud
• 26 in Winnipeg
• 14 in Prairie Mountain
• 14 in Interlake Eastern
• four in the Northern region

As of September 15, 2021 the City of Grande Prairie has 460 active cases of COVID-19, and the County of Grande Prairie has 170 cases.

Cases of COVID-19 across the rest of the province sit at 18,706 active cases. 

Hospitalizations are currently at 896, and a total of 222 Albertans are in intensive care receiving treatment. 

As well as students, staff and administrators are still adjusting to the return of in-class learning.

Students have been back in their classrooms as of September 2. Elementary students have been placed in cohorts with one designated teacher, while secondary school students have two in-person classes.

“We’re thrilled to have students back face-to-face and in classrooms,” said Director of Education for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, Sherri-Lynne Pharand, during a KPDSB board meeting earlier this week.

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, returned to the podium Thursday (Sept.16) along with Alberta Health Services CEO Dr. Virna Yiu to provide an update on the COVID-19 situation in the province. 

Hinshaw explained she would be going back to providing live COVID-19 updates twice a week due to the state of public health emergency issued Wednesday night. 

Football Alberta officials say the sport will continue this fall and have added some additional restrictions and recommended other actions following the announcement of additional COVID health restrictions on Sept. 15.

The organization that oversees football said many are already being practiced by teams, school divisions, and associations.

The revised restrictions announced on Sept. 15 state outdoor activities can continue without restriction.

For a full list of the revised restrictions, go here.

Three new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in this region today, which brings the active case count to 11.

All three cases are in the District of Rainy River, which is where the majority of the region's active cases are located.

Provincewide, 795 new cases of COVID-19 were reported today.

Follow up with the persons involved and their contacts have started according to protocol. Anyone who is identified as a contact for these cases will be contacted directly.

Leadership with the Northwestern Health Unit says the enforcement of Ontario’s upcoming vaccine passport will run mostly on a complaint and education-based system. The new passport will come into effect as of September 22.

Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit, Dr. Kit Young Hoon, explains municipal by-law enforcement officers, provincial offense officers, OPP officers and Northwestern Health Unit inspectors will all able to enforce the new measures.