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Active COVID-19 infections surge, hospitalizations reach highest mark in nearly three months

FILE - This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML via AP)

CALGARY — Monday’s COVID-19 update showed that while there were no numbers released through the weekend, it didn’t stop infections from rising significantly.

Over the last three days, Alberta identified more than 3,000 new cases of COVID-19.

The weekend breakdown is as follows:

  • 1,231 cases identified on Friday
  • 960 cases identified on Saturday
  • 865 cases identified on Sunday

 

Across all three days, there were 3,056 cases reported on 29,269 tests, for an average positivity rate of around 10.4 per cent.

Active cases in the province also rose significantly, with current infections rising 1,771 from Friday’s update for a total of 11,426.

That number is the highest the province has seen since May 24.

Edmonton continues to lead the province in active cases with 2,472 — while Calgary now has 2,405.

Hospitalizations also jumped significantly, with 401 people now in hospital, an increase of 65 from Friday, with 98 people now in the ICU — a staggering 24 person increase from just a few days ago.

Seven additional deaths were also reported over the last three days.


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Of those currently in hospital with COVID-19, 313 are unvaccinated — or about 78 per cent.

Meanwhile, 88 of the 98 people in the ICU — or about 90 per cent — have also no received a COVID-19 shot.

On the vaccination front, Alberta has administered more than 5.55 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine — with nearly 19,000 shots going into Albertans arms since Friday.

Of the eligible population, 77.9 per cent have received at least one vaccine dose, while 69.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.