Two more Albertans, both from the Calgary zone, have died bringing the total COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 20.

In addition, 106 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, bringing the total number in Alberta to 1,181, of which 131 are suspected to be community-acquired.

Of these cases, there are currently 42 people in hospital, 14 of which have been admitted to intensive care units (ICU).

In providing an update this afternoon, health officials explained 51 of the new cases are laboratory confirmed, and 55 are probable (symptomatic close contacts of laboratory confirmed cases).

They say because there is a delay in the reporting of probable cases this does not reflect a single-day increase of 55 new cases.

Sixty-two per cent of all confirmed cases are in the Calgary Zone, of which Cochrane is part of, and most are specifically in Calgary. Broken down further to the Cochrane-Springbank area, there are 12 confirmed cases, up from 10 since yesterday's update. 

There have been 62,520 people tested for COVID-19, and a total of 64,108 tests performed by the lab. There have been 2,148 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has expanded its testing criteria for COVID-19 to include symptomatic individuals in the following roles:

  • Group home and shelter workers;
  • First responders, including firefighters;
  • Those involved in COVID-19 enforcement, including police, peace officers, bylaw officers, environmental health officers, and Fish and Wildlife officers; and
  • Correctional facility staff in both provincial and federal facilities.

Yesterday, AHS announced further restrictions for visitors to Alberta hospitals.

Effective immediately, no visitors will be permitted to visit residents in long-term care, supportive living, congregate living, hospice care and acute care settings in Alberta.

Details on the restrictions, as well as exceptions, can be found here.