EDMONTON – COVID-19 remains a serious concern. Additional restrictions come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 13 to bend the curve and protect the health-care system.
Latest updates
- Over the last 24 hours, 1,738 new cases were identified.
- There are 684 people in hospital due to COVID-19, including 123 in intensive care.
- There are 20,161 active cases in the province.
- To date, 55,947 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19.
- There was an increase of 20,957 tests (2,465,429 total) for a total of 1,554,631 people tested.
- The testing positivity rate is 8.3 per cent.
- In the last 24 hours, there were 18 additional COVID-related deaths reported: one on Dec. 2, one on Dec. 3, one on Dec. 5, three on Dec. 6, two on Dec. 7, two on Dec. 8, three on Dec. 9, and five on Dec. 10.
- The total number of COVID-19 related deaths is now 684.
- All zones across the province have cases:
- Calgary Zone: 7,166 active cases and 22,967 recovered
- South Zone: 612 active cases and 3,782 recovered
- Edmonton Zone: 9,570 active cases and 22,569 recovered
- North Zone: 1,240 active cases and 3,783 recovered
- Central Zone: 1,502 active cases and 2,722 recovered
- 71 active cases and 124 recovered cases in zones to be confirmed
- Additional information, including case totals, is online.
- Currently, 458 schools, about 19 per cent, are on alert or have outbreaks, with 1,947 cases in total.
- Of those, 165 schools are on alert, with 283 total cases.
- Outbreaks are declared in 293 schools, including 123 on watch, with a total of 1,664 cases.
- So far, in-school transmission has likely occurred in 330 schools. Of these, 167 have had only one new case result.
- Based on data available to date, 307 schools have been removed from the alert list.
- An online map lists schools with two or more confirmed cases, updated every school day.
- There are 866 active and 3,282 recovered cases at long-term care facilities and supportive/home living sites.
- To date, 429 of the 684 reported deaths (63 per cent) have been in long-term care facilities or supportive/home living sites.
- Alberta is reporting case numbers and information daily, including on weekends and holidays.
Vaccine distribution
- Alberta will deliver its first COVID-19 vaccines to critical health-care workers at the highest-risk facilities next week. The Pfizer vaccine has now been approved by Health Canada.
- Eligible groups of health-care workers, including staff at long-term care and supportive living facilities, will be offered vaccinations starting in early 2021.
New provincewide restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19
- In response to increasing case numbers, new restrictions on social gatherings and masking are in effect.
- Effective 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 13, additional restrictions will come into effect, including business closures and restrictions on other services, retail businesses and attendance at places of worship.
- These mandatory restrictions apply provincewide and will be in place for at least four weeks.
- All existing guidance and legal orders remain in place, including closures previously required on Nov. 27.
- Alberta Health, AHS and local municipalities continue to closely monitor the spread across the province.
Enforcement of public health measures
- The government has granted certain Alberta peace officers and community peace officers temporary authority to enforce public health orders.
- Expanding these authorities increases the number of officers able to levy fines by about 700.
- Not following mandatory restrictions will result in fines of $1,000 per ticketed offence and up to $100,000 through the courts.
