Another 961 cases of COVID-19 identified over long weekend as province shifts to appointment-only testing
Stephanie Babych
Stephanie Babych
© Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health.
Another 961 cases of COVID-19 were identified over the long weekend with an average of 240 cases per day, according to Alberta’s top doctor on Tuesday, as she announced that testing at provincial assessment centres is shifting to an appointment-only model.
Starting on Wednesday, Alberta Health Services assessment centres will no longer be accepting drop-in patients but will operate with an appointment-only system that is meant to speed up testing, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, explained during Tuesday’s press conference.
About 93 per cent of the province’s COVID-19 tests are already being booked by appointment online or over the phone with HealthLink.
“By shifting to a provincewide by appointment process, we will make on-site testing quicker and more efficient. We will also reduce crowding in line and help ensure that everyone is tested as quickly and safely as possible,” Hinshaw said.
There are 236 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, 259 cases on Saturday, 246 cases on Sunday and 220 on Monday, which brings the total of active cases in the province to 2,615.
There are 97 people in hospitals across the province, including 13 requiring intensive care. This is one of the highest numbers of hospital admissions that Alberta has seen since the start of the pandemic.
Hinshaw said 41 per cent of the hospitalizations were due to acute care outbreaks at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary and Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton.
“We’re watching our province’s health system carefully to ensure that hospitalizations and ICU admissions remain within our province’s capacity,” said Hinshaw.
No new cases of the novel coronavirus were identified among patients at Foothills Medical Centre over the weekend but one health-care worker tested positive.
In total, 45 patients, 37 health-care workers and five visitors have tested positive in connection to the outbreaks at several units of the hospital.
There were no new deaths to report at Foothills Medical Centre, though Hinshaw mentioned the 11th patient who died which was reported by AHS on Friday.
Three other Albertans died over the weekend, including a woman in her 70s from the Edmonton zone, a woman in her 60s linked to Lifestyle Options Terra Losa outbreak in Edmonton and a woman in her 50s linked to Millwoods Shepherds Care Centre in Edmonton.
The death toll now sits at 286.
“Any death, at any time, for any reason is devastating for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It can be especially difficult during a holiday like Thanksgiving, and it’s made even harder by the pandemic, which makes gathering with friends and family more difficult at a time where you need their comfort most,” said Hinshaw.
Over the weekend, Hinshaw posted on Twitter to encourage people to get the flu vaccine this season.
“Starting Oct. 19 people 5 years+ can get a free flu shot at a pharmacy or Dr.’s office. Public health clinics will be for kids younger than 5, their parents and household members; those without an AHC number and those in communities with no other immunizing healthcare providers,” said Hinshaw.
“Influenza coupled with COVID-19 can result in severe outcomes for our senior citizens. We are protecting Alberta’s most vulnerable population by offering, for the first time a high-dose influenza vaccine for residents of provincially funded long-term care beds, who are 65+.”
sbabych@postmedia.com
Twitter: @BabychStephanie
Another 961 cases of COVID-19 were identified over the long weekend with an average of 240 cases per day, according to Alberta’s top doctor on Tuesday, as she announced that testing at provincial assessment centres is shifting to an appointment-only model.
Starting on Wednesday, Alberta Health Services assessment centres will no longer be accepting drop-in patients but will operate with an appointment-only system that is meant to speed up testing, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, explained during Tuesday’s press conference.
About 93 per cent of the province’s COVID-19 tests are already being booked by appointment online or over the phone with HealthLink.
“By shifting to a provincewide by appointment process, we will make on-site testing quicker and more efficient. We will also reduce crowding in line and help ensure that everyone is tested as quickly and safely as possible,” Hinshaw said.
There are 236 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, 259 cases on Saturday, 246 cases on Sunday and 220 on Monday, which brings the total of active cases in the province to 2,615.
There are 97 people in hospitals across the province, including 13 requiring intensive care. This is one of the highest numbers of hospital admissions that Alberta has seen since the start of the pandemic.
Hinshaw said 41 per cent of the hospitalizations were due to acute care outbreaks at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary and Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton.
“We’re watching our province’s health system carefully to ensure that hospitalizations and ICU admissions remain within our province’s capacity,” said Hinshaw.
No new cases of the novel coronavirus were identified among patients at Foothills Medical Centre over the weekend but one health-care worker tested positive.
In total, 45 patients, 37 health-care workers and five visitors have tested positive in connection to the outbreaks at several units of the hospital.
There were no new deaths to report at Foothills Medical Centre, though Hinshaw mentioned the 11th patient who died which was reported by AHS on Friday.
Three other Albertans died over the weekend, including a woman in her 70s from the Edmonton zone, a woman in her 60s linked to Lifestyle Options Terra Losa outbreak in Edmonton and a woman in her 50s linked to Millwoods Shepherds Care Centre in Edmonton.
The death toll now sits at 286.
“Any death, at any time, for any reason is devastating for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It can be especially difficult during a holiday like Thanksgiving, and it’s made even harder by the pandemic, which makes gathering with friends and family more difficult at a time where you need their comfort most,” said Hinshaw.
Over the weekend, Hinshaw posted on Twitter to encourage people to get the flu vaccine this season.
“Starting Oct. 19 people 5 years+ can get a free flu shot at a pharmacy or Dr.’s office. Public health clinics will be for kids younger than 5, their parents and household members; those without an AHC number and those in communities with no other immunizing healthcare providers,” said Hinshaw.
“Influenza coupled with COVID-19 can result in severe outcomes for our senior citizens. We are protecting Alberta’s most vulnerable population by offering, for the first time a high-dose influenza vaccine for residents of provincially funded long-term care beds, who are 65+.”
sbabych@postmedia.com
Twitter: @BabychStephanie
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