Airdrie has seen another record tally of COVID-19 cases, as 538 were reported as of May 6 – an increase of 64 since May 4.
According to numbers updated daily on airdrie.ca, there has been a total of 3,145 cases locally since the pandemic began. Of those, 2,590 people have recovered and 17 deaths have been reported.
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As students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 shift back to an at-home learning scenario, cases are confirmed at 17 schools in Airdrie, according to the provincial COVID-19 status map. A.E. Bowers Elementary School is listed under "outbreak" status, with 10 or more active cases, while École francophone d'Airdrie, St. Martin de Porres High School, Nose Creek Elementary School, George McDougall High School, Heloise Lorimer School, Bert Church High School, Our Lady Queen of Peace School and Windsong Heights School are experiencing outbreaks of five to nine active cases.
École Edwards Elementary School, Bert Church High School, W.H. Croxford High School, Ralph McCall School, Herons Crossing School, Meadowbrook School, Footprints for Learning Society and C.W. Perry School are all listed under "alert" status, with each reporting two to four active cases.
According to Alberta.ca, 2,211 new cases were identified as of May 6, meaning there are 24,497 active cases in the province. The reported provincial numbers indicate 654 patients are in hospital with the virus and 146 Albertans are in intensive care units.
In total, 2,102 deaths have been reported in Alberta from COVID-19, as of May 6.
In terms of the more contagious COVID-19 variants of concern, the provincial total currently sits at 13,549 active cases. Variant cases accounted for roughly 55 per cent of active cases in Alberta as of May 5.
While infections continue to increase, so too do the number of vaccines administered in Alberta. According to government data, 1,732,582 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in Alberta, as of May 5. To date, 308,027 Albertans have been fully immunized with both doses of a vaccine.
Rocky View County's COVID-19 numbers also rose this week, with 283 active cases reported as of May 5 – an increase of 32 infections from May 3.
Ten schools in RVC are on the provincial COVID-19 status map; Springbank Middle School, Edge School, Springbank Community High School, Bearspaw School, Prince of Peace Lutheran School in Conrich, Elbow Valley Elementary School, Langdon School, Beiseker Community School, Crossfield Elementary School and Indus School.
Out west, Cochrane reported 21 active cases of the virus as of May 5. According to the school status map, eight Cochrane schools have confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks. Bow Valley High School, RancheView school and Cochrane High School are listed under "outbreak" status, reporting more than 10 cases at each. St. Timothy and Cochrane Christian Academy are also listed under "outbreak" status, reporting five to nine cases at each school. Glenbow Elementary School, Fireside school and Elizabeth Barrett Elementary School are all listed under "alert" status, having reported two to four active cases.
On the east side of the county, Chestermere reported 147 active cases as of May 7. Five area schools are listed on the provincial COVID-19 status map; Chestermere Lake Middle School and Chestermere High School are experiencing an outbreak of 10 or more cases, St. Gabriel the Archangel School is experiencing an outbreak of five to nine cases and Prairie Waters Elementary School is also experiencing an outbreak of five to nine active cases. Our Lady Wisdom is listed under "alert" status, having reported two to four active cases.
On May 7, the Alberta government announced a new agreement between the province and the State of Montana to speed up the vaccination of Alberta's commercial truck drivers who transport essential goods across the Canada and United States border. According to a press release from the Province, Alberta commercial truck drivers who are regulated to transport goods into the United States will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
About 2,000 Alberta truck drivers are eligible to be vaccinated under the program.
“We’re doing everything we can to get a vaccine into Albertans’ arms as fast as possible, including by forging this innovative agreement with Montana," Premier Jason Kenney noted in the release. "We are very grateful to Montana Governor [Greg] Gianforte for the generous donation of vaccines to protect our truckers. Alberta depends on trade with our American neighbours and this program will ensure our goods get to market while stopping the spike of COVID-19.”
Montana's governor echoed the sentiment, adding the pandemic has had devastating consequences, including a severe impact on Alberta's and Montana's economies.
"By working together and taking this critical action, we keep our trade channels open between Montana and Alberta," he said in the release. "I am grateful to Premier Kenney that we can band together to prevent the spread of COVID-19, protect truckers and their families from the virus, and ensure we maintain the exchange of goods our communities rely upon. Montana will continue working to maintain our strong bonds with the people of Alberta.”
