As COVID-19 cases and the positivity rate continue to climb across the province with the Omicron COVID-19 variant, local communities including the City and County of Wetaskiwin have also seen an increase in case numbers.
As of Jan. 6, 2022, the Government of Alberta through their COVID-19 geospatial map, states that the City of Wetaskiwin has 147 active cases. The city has had 15 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
On the same map, separated from the city under the municipality setting, the County of Wetaskiwin is reporting 48 active cases. The county has had eight COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Currently there are two Wetaskiwin locations listed by the provincial government with COVID-19 outbreaks:
• Long term care facility: Community Health Centre, Wetaskiwin;
• And supportive living facility: Optimal Living- Sagebrush, Wetaskiwin.
READ MORE: Provinces to receive large shipments of rapid tests this month: prime minister
Tuesday Jan. 4, 2022, in the first public announcement regarding COVID-19 in the new year, Premier Jason Kenney said that there were more than 34,000 active cases in the province. Kenney said these cases were fueled by the Omicron variant.
“Omicron has arrived as a perfect storm of increased transmissibility, immune escape from both previous infection and two doses of vaccine, and enough early signs of reduced severity at an individual level to be tempting to not take seriously,” chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Tuesday.
Hinshaw said that between Dec. 31, 2021, and Jan. 3, 2022, the provincial positivity rate ranged from 28 to 36 per cent. She stated that all previous waves of the pandemic have taken their toll on the health-care system, and amid Omicron it is crucial that everyone do their part to reduce the strain that is expected to hit health care as Omicron cases turn into hospital admissions.
READ MORE: Erin O’Toole pushes for unvaccinated Canadians to be accommodated amid Omicron wave
“Our actions now will make a substantial difference to the resilience and capacity of our health care system, not just in the next few weeks but in the long term, as burnout and fatigue are very real and will not be gone overnight.”
Kenney encouraged Albertans to protect themselves by getting vaccinated, limit in-person contacts and take rapid tests “when appropriate.” The premier assured that the province has ordered more rapid tests for distribution throughout the province as many communities face a shortage amid high demand.
shaela.dansereau@pipestoneflyer.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter