Alberta reported two new cases and two recoveries of COVID-19 in Wood Buffalo.
Despite adding a single new case of COVID-19, the region’s rural hamlets have two newly recovered cases.
There are eight active cases and 44 recoveries outside the urban service area.
Fort McMurray now has five active cases and 56 recoveries.
RELATED: COVID-19 cases in RMWB rural hamlets return to single digits
In the last 24 hours, there are 113 new cases of the infection, five more deaths, and 130 recovered cases across Alberta.
Alberta Health officials linked all five deaths to the Good Samaritan Southgate Care Centre in Edmonton.
To date, 21 Albertans linked to clinic died of COVID-19.
Dr Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, retracted a July 27 statement saying AHS took over daily operation of the centre.
She admitted this was due to a miscommunication among staff.
Another tragic day at Edmonton’s Good Samaritan Southgate Care Centre, as three more resident shave passed away due to COVID, bringing the total lives lost at the facility to 21. #Yeg #yyc #ableg #covid19ab pic.twitter.com/n8laffpEX6
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) July 30, 2020
AHS said support for the Good Samaritan will continue.
Alberta has 1408 active cases, 195 deaths, and 9113 resolved cases.
91 Albertans are in hospital with COVID-19, including 18 in intensive care.
Expanded COVID-19 testing
Hinshaw also announced a pilot program with Alberta’s pharmacies was successful.
The province plans to expand testing for COVID-19.
Hinshaw says the serology sample estimates that there 36,000 COVID cases as of May 20th.
At that same time, we had 6,000 cases identified – or about 17% of the estimated cases. #yeg #yyc #ableg #covid19ab
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) July 30, 2020
Pharmacies may volunteer to enrol in the expanded program.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro said community pharmacies can safely provide easy access to testing.
“Alberta continues to expand its testing capacity and maintain one of the highest testing rates in the world. Strong COVID-19 testing is a key part of our relaunch strategy and will help us continue to protect Albertans from this virus in the days ahead.”
The Medicine Shoppe in Timberlea is one of 20 pharmacies in Alberta that participated in the pilot.
RELATED: Local pharmacy participating in COVID-19 pilot program
Hinshaw said there are links between stages in Alberta Relaunch and hospitalization rates.
She added there are connections between the recent spike in new cases and Canada Day celebrations.
Long weekend heads up!!!
Hinshaw says they saw a COVID case spike from the Canada Day long-weekend.
Says we should be mindful of that- getting out and enjoying our time off but to make the proper adjustments to follow public health measures. #yeg #yyc #ableg #covid19ab
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) July 30, 2020
Hinshaw encouraged all Albertans to maintain physical distancing practices and stay home if not feeling well this weekend.
To date, Alberta Health officials completed 676,913 tests for COVID-19.