During the November 16th COVID-19 update, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw compared the strains of coronavirus on the health care system in comparison to influenza. 

“We have had 49 acute care COVID outbreaks in just seven and a half months with 42 deaths linked to these outbreaks. This is despite extraordinary measures to prevent spread in the community and in the hospital,” explained Hinshaw.  

Additionally, COVID cases have taken a much larger toll on Alberta’s health care system. 

“These processes enhance safety but also limit capacity including much more aggressive isolation policies where patients who have any symptoms that could be COVID, patients with confirmed COVID, and patients who have had a COVID exposure need to be in an isolation space. This means not regularly using multi-bed rooms more widespread use personal protective equipment which takes time to properly put on and take off and other changes that limit the number of beds for use,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw. 

On a positive note, the province saw a huge increase of people who decided to get immunized in an effort to lift the burden of influenza from the health care system. 

“More than 1.1 million Albertans have been immunized compared to about 140,000 at this time last year,” said Hinshaw. 

So far, there have been no confirmed cases of seasonal influenza. 

Additionally, Dr. Hinshaw thanked Albertans in enhanced areas for making quick changes to their social activities in order to reduce virus transmission. 

“For the next two weeks, I encourage Albertans to redouble their efforts. Stay home if you are sick wash your hands regularly and don’t touch your face with unwashed hands, maintain distance from those outside your household and wear a mask when your indoor public spaces,” said Hinshaw. 

The doctor asks that Albertans limit their social gatherings to just their households and avoid large parties at all costs. 

November 16th new case numbers:

  • 860 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours
  • 10,031 active cases in Alberta
  • 264 people are hospitalized with COVID-19
  • 57 people have been admitted to ICU’s with COVID-19
  • 29,731 total recovered cases
  • 20 new deaths in the last 24 hours
  • 427 total deaths from the virus

Active case numbers in Central Alberta area:

  • 11 active cases in Lacombe County
  • 22 active case in the City of Lacombe
  • 116 active cases in the City of Red Deer (this total has been corrected from a previous story)
  • 14 active cases in Red Deer County
  • 89 active cases in Ponoka County
  • 8 active cases in the Town of Sylvan Lake
  • 1 active cases in Stettler County
  • 16 active case in Mountain View County

*Not all cases in the Central Zone have been included.