COVID-19

A Slow Roll convoy travelled Hwy. 1A and areas of Cochrane today, and a second Historic Downtown rally is slated for tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 6.

Shortly after noon today, about 50 vehicles paraded from the Cochrane Ranche to Gleneagles along Hwy. 1A for several laps. The vehicles were decked out with Canada flags and the occasional Alberta flag. Stickers with words like "Honk, Honk!" and "You are Powerful. Start acting like It!" were applied to several vehicles before departing the Cochrane Ranche.  Along the routes, horns were blasted and participants waved.

The AHS website is reporting an additional three COVID-19 deaths in Cochrane bringing the total to 13. 

Cochrane has 285 active COVID-19 cases while Rocky View County has 347 cases.

As of Friday, February 4, there are 1,584 Albertans in the hospital and 118 patients in ICU.     

Sadly, another 26 deaths have been reported bringing the total in the province to 3,634.

The latest COVID-19 numbers are in.   

Currently, 1,584 Albertans are in hospital with the virus, including 118 in intensive care.     

Twenty-six deaths were reported on Friday (Feb.4), bringing the total to 3,634 since the start of the pandemic. 

Manitoba continues to report on the recorded number of COVID-19 cases. However, it is important to note this data is limited and should be used with caution. It includes cases confirmed by a PCR test as well as rapid tests given by health care professionals. Positive test results from rapid antigen tests, which people generally do at home, are not collected or reported. As a result, these numbers are an under-reporting of COVID-19 in the community.

Public health officials advise 11 new deaths in people with COVID-19 are being reported today:

Earlier this week, federal and provincial health leaders indicated COVID-19, and the Omicron wave is on a downward trend.

On Thursday, the province reported 2,797 people in hospital with COVID-19, which is just over 800 people fewer than a week ago. A decrease of people in intensive care units has been seen as 541 were reported on Thursday down 58 from a week prior.

At the local level, the Northwestern Health Units Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kit Young Hoon said the downward trend is not being seen.

The province is reducing isolation times for people exposed to COVID-19. 

Effective Thursday (Feb.3), Alberta will recommend unvaccinated asymptomatic household contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases stay home for ten days after exposure instead of the current 14-day recommendation. 

Chief medical officer of health, Dr Deena Hinshaw, explained the change falls in line with new data. 

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, says the COVID-19 situation in Ontario is slowly improving, but leaders need to start looking at which public health restrictions should remain, and which restrictions need to be lifted.

“I want to thank Ontarians for the sacrifices that they’ve made that allowed us to get to this point,” Moore said, starting off his virtual press conference on February 3.

Seven more people have died of COVID-19 as of Thursday morning.

According to the provincial COVID-19 dashboard, there are 736 people in the hospital, with 521 of those people having active cases of the virus.

There are 54 people in intensive care, with 41 of those people having active cases.

Seven more people have died. There are now 1,583 COVID-19 deaths. 

Manitoba's top doctor has announced the loosening of some public health orders beginning on Tuesday. And, Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin says at the rate our province is trending, we can expect more restrictions lifted in the weeks ahead.

Beginning Tuesday, there will be changes to the number of visitors allowed in a private residence, while sports and recreation tournaments will be allowed to resume, liquor sales will be extended to midnight in licensed premises and capacity restrictions will be eased in many public spaces.

Some capacity changes are coming for places of worship next week.

The province of Manitoba's latest COVID-19 health orders shows loosening restrictions in places of worship.

"This is a very modest loosening of these restrictions," Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief public health officer for Manitoba, says in the Wednesday press conference with Premier Heather Stefanson.

The orders go into effect Tuesday, lasting two weeks.