EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says Alberta saw an average of 12 new variant cases of COVID-19 a day over the long weekend.
There were 15 new cases found on Friday, 18 on Saturday, 10 on Sunday, and seven on Monday.
“I know many Albertans are concerned about these variants, and I am too,” said Hinshaw during her live update Tuesday.
“I am particularly concerned about the growing number of cases not linked to travel, though many of these cases are the results of close contacts that we have identified through robust contract testing.”
There are 221 active variant cases of COVID-19 in Alberta.
More on the variant cases: pic.twitter.com/8mH1nchFKH
— Jeff Slack (@Jeffslack660) February 16, 2021
Despite the growing variant cases, Hinshaw says Alberta is still in a downward trend in almost all other categories.
There were 263 new cases of COVID-19 found and nine additional deaths reported in the last 24 hours.
Latest COVID-19 numbers for Alberta:
– 263 new cases
– 5,200 test completed (PR: 5 per cent)
– Nine new deaths (total 1,791)— Jeff Slack (@Jeffslack660) February 16, 2021
A total of 122,554 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19, while 4,993 remain active with 365 in hospital and 56 in the ICU.
Here’s a breakdown of cases: pic.twitter.com/Ka7Wt79Frd
— Jeff Slack (@Jeffslack660) February 16, 2021
However, though the numbers are looking promising after one full week of relaxed restrictions, Hinshaw says it’s too early to continue to phase two.
She says it takes up to two weeks to see the impacts of relaxed restrictions.
“It’s too soon, therefore, to say what effect those changes are having in the province.”
