Alberta Premier Jason Kenney began the September 21st COVID-19 update by addressing the cabinet shift he made earlier today. The former Health Minster Tyler Shandro will now be taking on the role of Minister of Labour and Immigration while Jason Copping who formerly served in that role will be the new Minister of Health. 

For more information on the cabinet shuffle, you can follow the link below. 

U capacity would be 169 per cent, based on our normal baseline. That is why Alberta Health Services has already reached out to other provinces for help with staffing and explore if necessary, potentially transferring patients to provinces with spare capacity--just as we in the past have accepted patients from other provinces when we had spare capacity and they were in need,” said Kenney.

The province has also been making additional preparation in case the situation in Alberta becomes more dire. 

“Earlier today we initiated planning with Federal agencies for potential additional support, again, to plan responsibly for a worse case scenario. Our planning includes potential aeromedical evacuations and capability from the Canadian armed forces including getting new personnel skilled and patient management transfers that can help support relocating patients to hospitals outside of the province if needed,” explained Kenney. 

Kenney emphasized that the province does not currently need the support but are instead taking the steps to plan ahead in case the COVID-19 situation in Alberta requires more support. 

The Premier also encourages immunocompromised individuals and seniors living in congregate care to receive a third dose of vaccine in order to ensure better protection against the virus variant. Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided more information on third doses of vaccines.

“Recently, the national advisory committee on immunization recommended that individuals with moderate to severely immunocompromising condition should receive additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine. This is based on research that shows that these individuals aren’t as protected as well as others with the normal two doses of vaccine but can improve their protection with a third dose,” said Hinshaw. 

Immunosuppressed individuals can receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine including those with the following conditions:

  • Transplant recipients
  • Those receiving active cancer treatment
  • Those with chronic kidney disease receiving regular dialysis
  • Those taking certain medications for autoimmune diseases 
  • Individuals undergoing CAR T therapy 
  • Those using high-dose steroids and other immunosuppressant drugs
  • Those with stage three or advanced HIV infection 
  • Individuals with genetic and immunodeficiency syndromes 

Additionally, studies are being done for families with young children who cannot be vaccinated at this time. 

“We will not offer vaccines on younger people until the studies on vaccines and younger age groups are completed and evaluated. At the same time, we have a system in place to move quickly to offer vaccine to additional age groups if vaccine is approved by Health Canada and recommended by the National Advisory Committee,” said Hinshaw. 

September 21st new case numbers:

  • 1,519 new cases of the virus for September 20
  • 20,917 active cases in Alberta
  • 996 people are hospitalized
  • 222 people admitted to ICUs
  • 2,574 total deaths from the virus

Active case numbers in the Central Alberta area:

  • 135 active cases in the City of Lacombe
  • 204 active cases in the County of Lacombe
  • 801 active cases in the City of Red Deer
  • 340 active cases in the County of Red Deer
  • 274 active cases in the County of Ponoka
  • 140 active cases in the Town of Sylvan Lake
  • 138 active cases in the County of Stettler

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