STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.
18 confirmed cases in North

North Zone adds two more COVID-19 cases Sunday; province adds 33

Mar 22, 2020 | 4:23 PM

Two more confirmed cases of COVID-19 were tallied in the North Zone on Sunday, bringing the area’s total number of cases up to 18.

Though there was no press conference update held on Sunday by the province, the government’s COVID-19 aggregate data website was updated with the new totals. In total, there were 33 new confirmed cases added across Alberta for March 22, bringing the province’s total to 259.

One of those cases was added in the High Prairie region, bringing that area’s total to five confirmed cases.

The High Prairie area now has five confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the province (Photo: Government of Alberta)

The City of Grande Prairie still sits at two confirmed cases, which were announced on March 20. All other areas directly surrounding the Swan City such as Beaverlodge, the County of Grande Prairie and Valleyview continue to have no confirmed cases, according to the provincial government.

The data for Sunday also shows no additional fatalities in province, which remains at one. However, seven additional people have been admitted to hospital, bringing that total to 18. There are now seven individuals in ICU, an increase of one from Saturday.

Meanwhile during Saturday’s press conference update, Alberta’s deputy chief medical officer of health told reporters the government is set to roll out a plan this week to allow public health inspectors to monitor large groups and businesses, including restaurants, to deal with people who are not following COVID-19 health and safety recommendations.

Dr. Marcia Johnson said she didn’t want to give details of the plan, but said she believed it could give police, through fines, the ability to deal with such people.

On Friday, provincial police in Ontario warned that people will face fines for violating orders to close certain businesses and to limit gatherings.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe suggested citizens who know of anyone not self-isolating after returning from international travel should call police.