One person in Vermilion River County has recovered from COVID-19 while one case remains active in the City of Lloydminster.
The province of Alberta has updated their COVID-19 tracking tool to show active and recovered cases as well as deaths for each region. The map also now specifies the City of Lloydminster separately from Vermilion River County.
In the latest Alberta update, 98 new positive cases were confirmed bringing the total across Alberta to 1,348. There are 66 in the Central zone.
The province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says another death has also been reported. A woman in her 80s in the Calgary zone is the 11th death linked to the MacKenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre. There are now 24 total deaths related to COVID-19 in Alberta.
Dr. Hinshaw adds the province is expanding the parameters used to test people. Starting April 7, anyone over the age of 65 who has a fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose or a sore throat will be tested.
“Knowing that older Albertans are at increased risk of complications if they’re infected with COVID-19, we are expanding testing access to enable early detection of infection in this group of people,” she says.
Testing will also be expanded to include people with symptoms who work in group homes and shelters and first responders.
A total of 361 people have recovered from the virus and 65,914 tests have been completed.
Premier Jason Kenney will speak on Tuesday evening when it’s expected he will provide some of the modelling done by Alberta Health Services. The model could offer insight into the peak of COVID-19 and if the province is prepared.