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Alberta reports highest COVID case count in over 4 months, 18 new deaths reported

Last Updated Sep 17, 2021 at 11:17 pm MDT

CALGARY — On Friday, Alberta reported 2,020 new cases of COVID-19.

The new cases come after more than 17,000 tests were completed for a positivity rate of around 11.7 per cent.

The new case numbers are the highest the province has seen since 2,032 cases were reported on May 7.

Of the new infections in Alberta, nearly 70 per cent are unvaccinated.

There are now more than 19,000 active cases of COVID-19 in the province — an increase of 495 from Thursday.

Of active infections in Alberta, Calgary continues to lead the way with 4,154 active cases, while Edmonton now has 3,505.

There were also 18 additional deaths reported over the last day.


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There are now 911 people in hospital with COVID-19, an increase of 15 from the day prior, while 215 people have been admitted to the ICU.

Of those currently in the ICU, 193 are unvaccinated, or about 90 per cent.

As ICUs in Alberta continue to fill up, Alberta Health Services (AHS) says it is continuing to do what it can to ensure there is enough ICU capacity to meet demand, which included opening additional spaces and redeploying staff.

In a statement to 660 NEWS, AHS says:

“We currently have 322 ICU beds open in Alberta, including 149 additional spaces. AHS has opened 49 additional ICU surge spaces in the past seven days.

There are currently 260 patients in ICU, the vast majority of whom are COVID positive.

Provincially, ICU capacity (including additional surge beds) is currently at 81 per cent. Without the additional surge spaces, provincial ICU capacity would be 150 per cent.

The number of patients in ICU has increased by 13 per cent in the past seven days.”

Vaccination spike

Over the last 24 hours, the province has seen a spike in COVID-19 vaccinations.

After weeks of less than 10,000 doses being administered each day, the province is reporting more than 28,000 people received a shot in the last day.

Of the 28,158 new vaccine doses administered:

  • 16,231 were first-dose appointments;
  • 8,550 were second-dose appointments;
  • and 3,377 were third-dose appointments.

 

First-dose appointments in the province were the highest seen since June 5.

To date, the province has administered more than 5.75 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Of the eligible population, 80.1 per cent have received at least one dose, while 71.8 per cent are now fully vaccinated.