Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced some changes to the province’s COVID-19 testing in order to accommodate the rising number of those needing testing.

“We will shift back to offering just one test to all close contacts, when they have no symptoms. Starting today, close contacts will be offered testing as soon as they are identified. If they experience symptoms at any point after that first test, they can be tested again. Otherwise, they must remain in quarantine until 14 days have passed and as of today are no longer requested to have a second test,” explained Hinshaw.

If you have second test booked, you can cancel the appointment to free up space in the system and shorten wait times for others.

Although the growth of cases has slowed slightly, Hinshaw says the province is still headed the wrong way. 29 per cent of schools have active alerts or outbreaks and hospitalizations continue to rise.

The province is adjusting the total number of deaths caused by COVID-19 after further review of collected data.

“Our most recent review of past reported cases has found 14 previously reported deaths that were not deemed on file review to have COVID-19 as contributing cause.  As a result, they’re being removed from the provincial total,” said Hinshaw.

The change was made in an effort to remain transparent with Albertans about COVID-19 deaths.

April 27th new case numbers:

  • 1,539 new cases of the virus for April 26th
  • 20,721 active cases in Alberta
  • 635 people are hospitalized
  • 143 people admitted to ICUs
  • 7 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours
  • 2,067 total deaths from the virus
  • 13,091 active case variants in Alberta (1,659 in the Central Zone)
  • Variants of concern make up 63.2 per cent of active cases

Active case numbers in the Central Alberta area:

  • 140 active cases in the City of Lacombe
  • 113 active cases in the County of Lacombe
  • 709 active cases in the City of Red Deer
  • 169 active cases in the County of Red Deer
  • 148 active cases in the County of Ponoka
  • 89 active cases in the Town of Sylvan Lake
  • 49 active cases in the County of Stettler
  • 96 active cases in the County of Mountain View

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