Alberta set a new record Sunday with 22 COVID-19 deaths

On Sunday, Alberta hit a terrible milestone.

Alberta Health reports the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in the 24 hours since the pandemic hit the province.

There were a total of 22 deaths related to the virus, as well as 1,717 new cases.

The total daily COVID-related death toll in Alberta since the outbreak has reached a new daily high of 719.

Alberta now has 20,562 active cases of COVID-19, most of which are in the Calgary and Edmonton zones. There were 9,778 cases in the Edmonton zone and 7,268 in the Calgary zone.

There are 681 people hospitalized across the province with 136 in the ICU.

21,725 ​​COVID-19 tests were completed on December 12, giving a positive rate of just under eight percent over a 24-hour period. A total of 2,507,588 tests have been completed in Alberta since the outbreak began.

Read more: Alberta adds 1,590 new cases as Calgary, Edmonton protesters rally against COVID-19 actions

Twenty of the 22 deaths recorded on Sunday were senior citizens.

Six of the deaths occurred at Capitol Care Lynnwood in Edmonton: two men in their 80s, one in their 60s, one in their 90s, one in their 80s and one in their 70s. Alberta Health All deaths related to that center include comorbidities.

There were three deaths related to the outbreak in Salem Manor in Ledak: she was a woman in the 100s, a man in the 90s and a man in the 80s. According to Alberta Health, all three deaths were comorbidities.

Six more deaths have occurred in the Edmonton zone: an outbreak in Edmonton’s Chinatown Care Center where she was in a relationship with a woman in her 90s, in which case there were comorbidities, a man in his 50s with no known comorbidities, and a 40 – year – old man at the fort. Saskatchewan Correctional Center, in her case there are comorbidities, she is a woman in her 70s, there are comorbidities in their case and two men in their 70s – in one case there are comorbidities, in another case there are unknown comorbidities.

There have been three deaths in the Calgary Zone: a man in his 80s was involved in an outbreak at Bethany and two women in their 80s were involved in an outbreak at Egecare Sky Point. Three deaths included comorbidities.

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There were two deaths related to the outbreak at St. Mary’s Hospital in Central Zone: she was a woman in her 80s and a man in his 90s. There are comorbidities in female death, but it is not known whether there are comorbidities in male death.

There was also a death involving one person, where details including age and zone have not yet been confirmed.

The new daily record for COVID-19-related deaths came the same day Limitations have begun Across the province.

As part of the new restrictions, dining in restaurants and bars will no longer be allowed and all personal service businesses, such as hairdressers and gyms, will have to close.

1:44Despite Alberta’s new mandatory restrictions, Edmonton is getting more online support for small businesses

All social gatherings were also banned – not only indoors, but now outdoors as well. The province also imposes mandatory work from home and an Alberta-wide mask order.

Although retail businesses in Alberta can stay open, they must do so within the 15 percent lower fire code capacity limit. Worship centers are also open within the same limits.

Read more: Alberta to launch coronavirus vaccine rollout next Wednesday with 1,460 new cases of COVID-19 reported

Some Alberta health care workers prepare to be vaccinated

The first 30,000 initial dose of the Pfizer-Bioentech COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Canada on Sunday evening, just before Alberta’s vaccine roll out Wednesday.

Health officials say the vaccination program in Alberta will begin with a dose of 3,900 for 3,900 health workers, including IBU doctors, nurses, pulmonologists and long-term care workers in the province.

1:45The COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Alberta on Wednesday

Lisa Wally was a critical care nurse in the Edmonton area and was selected as one of the first recipients.

“I’m in disbelief,” Wally said. “I heard they were bringing small amounts of vaccines to Alberta – and there was discussion in my unit, as well as we were going to be the first group, because they specifically said they would start with critical care nurses.”

“It’s not true until the moment I actually choose the appointment time – I’m so glad.”

Wally said receiving the vaccine would cause her some concern as she works directly with Kovid-19 patients.

“It worked for nine months in health care,” she said. “I know, it can take months – up to a year for most people to reach the point where they can be vaccinated, but the start is good.

“It’s been a long time coming.”

She said she had no qualms about her decision to sign up and trusted the Health Canada officials as well as experts who approved the vaccine.

“For me, COVID patients, how many times have I had an accident at bed, it’s a relief, and I’m happy to take this vaccine one step further back to a normal life.”

– Allison Bench, with files from Global News

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