Alberta's total active cases of COVID-19 are declining while recoveries continue to increase.

In Airdrie, the total cases of COVID-19 remains at 42, however two more people have recovered. The latest stats show 15 active cases, 26 recoveries, and one death in the City of Airdrie. Rocky View County is reporting six active cases and 34 recovered.

Based on 2,864 tests in the past 24 hours, Dr. Deena Hinshaw confirmed 47 new cases in the province. There are currently 1,524 active cases while 4,659 Albertans have recovered from the virus. 73 people are currently in hospital, 12 of which are receiving treatment in the ICU.

Two additional deaths have also been reported in continuing care facilities in the North and Calgary zones, while two previous deaths have now been reclassified as unrelated to COVID-19, so the total number of deaths remains at 117.

Hinshaw says 36 cases remain active in workers at Cargill. 911 employees at the High River facility have recovered while two workers and one close contact has died. There are 58 active cases and 548 recoveries at JBS in Brooks and there are 16 active cases and 22 recovered at Harmony Beef in Rocky View County.

At the Amazon Fulfillment Centre in Balzac seven people have recovered while three cases remain active.

Two cases not believed to be related to each other have been reported at the Calgary Remand Centre and three cases have been reported at two unrelated Calgary day care centres, both of which remain close as a precaution.

Hinshaw says there has been six cases confirmed at a Calgary Canada Post facility, however she says there is no connection between the cases and it's not believed the virus was acquired in the workplace.

Despite these outbreaks and the continued increase in cases, Phase One of the province's relaunch strategy could kick in as early as this Thursday.

Dr. Hinshaw reiterated that a final decision has yet to be made on whether May 14 will indeed be the day, and explains why the province is talking about relaunching.

"Much of the province has been successful at flattening the curve," she says. "Hospitalizations and ICU admissions are down, recovered case numbers are up, and I am encouraged to see fewer daily new cases than even one week ago."

Hinshaw says frequent and thorough hand washing and physical distancing are habits that will remain and become even more important as we start to leave our homes more often.

"We have the testing capacity and contact tracing ability to quickly identify new cases and prevent further spread much more promptly than we could at the start of this pandemic," says Hinshaw.

In order to get more information about the potential asymptomatic spread of COVID-19, the province is offering testing to asymptomatic people in the Calgary zone for the next week. Up to 1,000 asymptomatic people will be tested per day.

"Anyone who lives in the Calgary zone, works outside the home, and isn't feeling sick but who wants to be tested, needs to go to the AHS online assessment tool and register for testing this week," Hinshaw offers. "Please do not call 811 unless you are feeling sick." 

 

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com