Alberta at a ‘critical’ point in the COVID-19 pandemic as cases continue to rise

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) — Alberta’s top doctor says the province is in a ‘danger zone’ after reporting a second day of over 300 new cases of COVID-19.

Alberta’s health system can handle the current situation, however, Dr. Deena Hinshaw warns that could easily escalate as evidence has shown how quickly the virus can spread.

“We are not out of the woods. I would say right now we are in a danger zone, where the coming weeks will really tell that story about whether we are able collectively to bend that curve downward, by following all of that guidance that’s already out there, that’s up online,” she said.

Hinshaw says peeps, don’t have an indoor party for Halloween – or limit the guest list.

But trick-or-treating while following right measures is still good to go. #yeg #yyc #ableg #covid19b

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) October 20, 2020

“Or, if we start to tip the wrong way, and see our hospitals fill up, and impair our ability to do elective surgeries, impair our ability to offer services that our health-care system needs to be able to offer to others that are not COVID-related.”

Hinshaw said the system is not a stage where it is unable to cope but it is getting closer.

Alberta reported 323 new cases on Tuesday, with active cases breaking another record for the second day in a row increasing to 3,203.

One additional death was reported for a total of 293.

Latest COVID-19 numbers for Alberta:

– 323 new cases
– One new death (total 293)
– 3,203 active cases
– 116 in hospital, 16 in ICU
– 19,500 recoveries pic.twitter.com/CrMqz2lnST

— Jeff Slack (@Jeffslack660) October 20, 2020

The death involved a man in his 70s linked to the outbreak at Terra Losa Lifestyle Options in Edmonton Zone.

Hospitalizations decreased to 116, with 16 of those in the ICU.

Hinshaw is concerned about the number of people hospitalized.

“Last week I mentioned the trend in higher hospitalization numbers is something that we are watching closely,” she said.

“We are currently at a compounded daily COVID hospitalization rise of 3.1 per cent across the province in the past two weeks, which is getting closer to the five per cent trigger threshold.

“I am concerned by the rise which appears to be driven by a number of factors, mainly the increase in community case counts and hospital outbreaks.”

The province announced it is pausing asymptomatic testing in those with no known exposures. Appointments already booked will be carried out until Nov. 4.

Hinsahw announces a change in the provinces testing approach. They are stopping all asymptomatic testing on those who are not showing symptoms of the virus. Anyone with symptoms and those who are a close contact with a confirmed case can still get tested

— Jeff Slack (@Jeffslack660) October 20, 2020

In mid-September, Hinshaw said the health system faced a difficult challenge over the fall months due to the cold and flu season. The province shifted its strategy to focus asymptomatic testing on priority groups.

Health officials will continue to test Albertans showing symptoms and those who have no symptoms but is a close contact of a COVID-19 case or linked to an outbreak.

The province has completed more than 650,000 tests on asymptomatic Albertans with no known exposure. Of those, 0.1 per cent have been positive.