Photo by Curtis Galbraith

By Curtis Galbraith

COVID-19

COVID-19 Update: Outbreak being tracked in one unit at the QE2 after two cases found

Sep 11, 2020 | 5:13 PM

The province says it is tracking a COVID-19 outbreak at one unit at the QE2 hospital. Two cases have been confirmed at the facility.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the hospital remains safe for staff and patients and that testing and contact tracing is underway.

“There is one affected unit. That unit is on enhanced precautions and at the rest of the hospital there is no risk to staff or patients and anyone thought to be exposed is being directly and individually contacted.”

Dr. Hinshaw says two cases are what she calls “a very low threshold for identifying outbreaks in acute care or continuing care facilities.”

Grande Prairie’s total active case count is down by one to 12, while the County of Grande Prairie is up now at four after one recovery and two new active cases were found.

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There were 111 new cases of COVID-19 found in Alberta for Thursday, September 10.

The total amount of active cases in the province now stands at 1,444. That is 50 fewer than yesterday. The provincial lab completed 11,979 tests in the last 24 hours.

Updated numbers in the Peace Region are as follows for September 10:

• City of Grande Prairie: 93 cases (12 actives, 79 recovered, two deaths)
• County of Grande Prairie: 48 cases (four actives, 44 recovered)
• M.D. of Greenview: 12 cases (zero actives, 11 recovered, one death)
• Birch Hills County: Three cases (All recovered)
• M.D. of Spirit River: 11 cases (eight actives, three recovered)
• M.D. of Smoky River: 74 cases (zero actives, 64 recovered, ten deaths)
• Big Lakes County: 48 cases (zero actives, 43 recovered, five deaths)
• M.D. of Lesser Slave River: 11 cases (four actives, seven recovered)
• M.D. of Peace: 21 cases (eight actives, 13 recovered)
• M.D. of Fairview: 16 cases (three actives, 13 recovered)
• Clear Hills County: 79 cases (17 actives, 61 recovered, one death)
• Northern Sunrise County: Six cases (All recovered)
• County of Northern Lights: 29 cases (10 actives, 19 recovered)
• Saddle Hills County: One case (One active, 0 recovered)
• Mackenzie County: 365 cases (67 actives, 286 recovered, 12 deaths)

One more person has died from COVID-19, but the total number remains at 253. One other case was removed from the total after the death was attributed to another cause.

The number of people in hospital has dropped from 43 to 41, while there are six people in an intensive care unit.

There are now 32 cases of COVID-19 at 29 Alberta schools.

Dr. Hinshaw says there are still three outbreaks, two in Calgary and one in Lethbridge.

Hinshaw says the schools are not a risk to their communities and those still attending are not at greater risk of exposure. She adds anyone who may have been exposed has been contacted and is self-isolating.

Dr. Hinshaw also announced during Friday’s update that limited band practices along with singing and wind instrument concerts are being allowed again. This is provided measures like enhanced cleaning and distancing are in place. She adds that new evidence suggests that this can be done safely if the proper precautions are taken.

Choirs can also start again, but there are size limits and people must wear masks while singing.

Audience singing is not allowed and congregations singing at worship services is being discouraged. Dr. Hinshaw says COVID-19 can spread more quickly in larger groups where prevention measures are harder to maintain.

Dance floors are still not allowed and gathering limits remain the same.