After five days of reporting estimates, new data from the provincial government show COVID-19 numbers rose around Alberta over the holidays – including in Airdrie, which is reporting 174 active cases as of Jan. 4.
The Province's regional status map indicates the number of cases in Airdrie is up 37 from Dec. 30, 2020. According to airdrie.ca, there have been a total of 1,489 cases in the city since the onset of the pandemic. Of those, 1,315 people have recovered and nine deaths have been reported.
In its daily bulletin Jan. 4, the Bethany Airdrie retirement home reported an outbreak of 40 cases, including 19 employees and 21 residents. According to the bulletin, two residents have passed away from COVID-19 since Dec. 30, 2020 and the entire facility remains under lockdown.
Outside the city in Rocky View County (RVC), there are currently 87 active cases, up two from Dec. 30, 2020. RVC currently has a case rate of 200 cases per 100,000 population.
Elsewhere in the county, Chestermere is reporting 58 active cases, the same number reported on Dec. 30 – while Cochrane is reporting 56 cases, which is 10 more than reported on Dec. 30.
Provincially, there have been a total of 105,535 cases of COVID-19 in Alberta. From Dec. 30, 2020 to Jan. 3, the provincial government reported 5,107 additional cases. Of the total cases, 13,839 are considered active, 90,554 people have recovered, 905 COVID-19 patients are in hospital and 136 are in intensive care units. In total, 1,142 deaths have been reported in the province due to the virus, including 96 reported between Dec. 30 and Jan. 3.
On Jan. 4, the government reported Alberta's first COVID-related death of a healthcare worker.
"I extend my condolences to families and friends mourning a loved one," said Alberta's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, on Twitter.
On a more positive note, according to alberta.ca, 22,861 doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in Alberta, as of Jan. 3.
"A new year is upon us, and with it comes hope for a brighter tomorrow," wrote Hinshaw on Twitter. "But our battle with COVID-19 is far from over. The actions we all take now can help bring COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations down in Alberta in the weeks to come."
