Sewage and positivity rates show ‘slight’ increase in COVID-19, availability of Paxlovid increases in pharmacies
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Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping told a press conference on Wednesday that sewage and PCR tests for COVID-19 showed a “slight” increase in viral transmission in the province. , but said the rates were too predictable.
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Copping said the seven-day average PCR test positivity rate in Alberta is 24.5%, a slight increase from the 22% seen in the previous seven days.
“Given that we have lifted the vast majority of public health measures over the past seven weeks, it is no surprise that we are seeing an uptick in COVID-19 transmission in the province,” he said. -he declares. “There are simply more opportunities for the virus to spread as more people work from the office, return to travel, socialize in a variety of settings and return to their normal routines.”
Omicron’s COVID-19 BA.2 subvariant is now the dominant strain in Alberta, accounting for 70% of positive PCR test samples. The severity of the strain is mild compared to previous strains and the healthcare system has not been hit hard, Copping said. For now, the province will have to “wait and see” what impact a future wave will have on Alberta’s health care system.
As of Friday, any pharmacy in the province interested in ordering Paxlovid treatments. Albertans eligible for treatment should call Health Link, where they will be screened to confirm their eligibility and next steps.
Anyone 55 and older, 18 or older with a pre-existing medical condition, or pregnant, who is unvaccinated, or who has received only one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is eligible. People who are immunocompromised due to a transplant, chemotherapy treatments or who have an inflammatory disease are eligible.
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Copping continues to encourage vaccinations and for Albertans to get rapid test kits from their local pharmacy. The test kits are free and an Alberta health card is no longer required to pick them up.
COVID-19 figures for Alberta, reported March 30
COVID-19 in Fort McMurray:
- 26 new cases in the last seven days. The first case was reported in the city on March 19. Cases are based on residency and do not include suburban labor.
- 10,381 people have had COVID-19. AHS no longer breaks down active and recovered case counts for regions.
- 23 residents have died of COVID-19 in Fort McMurray.
- People with a dose:
5-11: 33.3% (2574 people)
12-19: 91.7% (6145 people)
20-39: 81% (23,066 people)
40-59: 90% (20724 people)
60-74: 90.7% (5802 people)
75+: 84.4% (570 people)
18+: 85.7% (51,611 people)
12+: 86.3% (56,310 people)
5+: 80.7% (58,884 people)
All ages: 74.3% (58,884 people) - People with two doses:
5-11: 17.9% (1379 people)
12-19: 86.7% (5806 people)
20-39: 76.6% (21,794 people)
40-59: 86.8% (20,002 people)
60-74: 87.1% (5569 people)
75+: 81.6%, (551 people)
18+: 81.9% (49,329 people)
12+: 82.3% (53,726 people)
5+: 75.5% (55,105 people)
All ages: 69.6% (55,105 people) - People with three doses:
5-11: 0% (0 people)
12-19: 7.3% (489 people)
20-39: 16.3% (4654 people)
40-59: 34.1% (7850 people)
60-74: 56.3% (3602 people)
75+: 69.5%, (469 people)
18+: 28% (16,891 people)
12+: 26.1% (17,064 people)
5+: 23.4% (17,064 people)
All ages: 21.5% (17,064 people)
COVID-19 in rural areas:
- Six new cases in the past seven days in rural communities. Cases are based on residency and do not include suburban labor.
- 835 people have had COVID-19. AHS no longer breaks down active and recovered case counts for regions.
- Two residents have died of COVID-19 in rural areas of the region. Indigenous and rural leaders in the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo area have reported that some elders have died while living in other communities.
- People with a dose:
5-11: 32.1% (139 people)
12-19: 82.4% (379 people)
20-39: 80.6% (941 people)
40-59: 92.9% (1079 people)
60-74: 100% (490 people)
75+: 100% (105 people)
18+: 89% (2704 people)
12+: 88.8% (2995 people)
5+: 82.3% (3134 people)
All ages: 77.3% (3134 people) - People with two doses:
5-11: 10.6% (46 people)
12-19: 71.5% (329 people)
20-39: 71.6% (836 people)
40-59: 86.9% (1010 people)
60-74: 97.5% (470 people)
75+: 100%, (104 people)
18+: 82.3% (2,500 people)
12+: 81.5% (2749 people)
5+: 73.4% (2795 people)
All ages: 68.9% (2,795 people) - People with three doses:
5-11: 0% (0 people)
12-19: 1.3% (6 people)
20-39: 9.7% (113 people)
40-59: 29% (337 people)
60-74: 63.1% (304 people)
75+: 71.6%, (73 people)
18+: 27.4% (833 people)
12+: 24.7% (833 people)
5+: 21.9% (833 people)
All ages: 20.5% (833 people)
RMWB COVID-19 School Outbreaks:
- AHS only reports outbreaks in high-risk settings, such as hospitals, long-term care centers, shelters and correctional facilities. Schools are not treated as high risk environments.
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