Four people at the St. Albert Retirement Residence have died since the COVID-19 outbreak there began, according to Alberta Health.
Executive director Craig Smith notified families of the fourth death on Nov. 3.
"It is with deepest sorrow that I must advise of the passing of a resident who had underlying health conditions and became sick with COVID-19 symptoms last week," Smith wrote in a letter that was shared with the Gazette. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time."
There are 37 active cases of COVID-19 still at the facility involving four staff members and 33 residents. Of those, two residents are being treated in hospital. In total, there have been 64 positive cases linked to this outbreak.
More people at the facility are recovering from COVID-19. Nine staff members and 12 residents are expected to be "resolved" (i.e., no longer test positive for COVID-19). No new cases have been reported at the facility in four days.
The facility began its seventh round of testing on Monday with results coming back by the middle of the week. All other residents are being supported as they shelter in place, Smith wrote in an email to a resident's family on Monday.
"With case numbers remaining static again today, the mood in the residence has been very positive, calm and quiet," Smith wrote.
St. Albert is now back under the province's COVID-19 enhanced classification as of Tuesday, meaning the province is monitoring the risk and discussing with local governments about the possible need for additional health measures
On Nov. 10, updated numbers showed St. Albert has 100 active cases of COVID-19.
Fourteen people recovered from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, and 17 more have tested positive. The city has now had 391 people test positive since the start of the pandemic, with 288 having recovered. Three people have died, according to the province’s data map. However, according to Alberta Health, four deaths are linked to the outbreak at the St. Albert Retirement Residence, though only one of those is reflected on the province's website.
Alberta recorded 713 new cases of COVID-19 on Nov. 10, bringing the province’s total to 8,090 active cases. Seven more people have died from the virus, bringing the total number of people who have died in Alberta from COVID-19 to 376.
The number of Albertans who have recovered from COVID-19 grew by 581 people in the last 24 hours. In Alberta, 26,407 people have recovered from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
On Friday, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said effective immediately, people need to stop hosting any social gatherings at home in Calgary and Edmonton. The recommendation is voluntary, but the premier described it as a “strong request.”
Outbreak update
An outbreak at the C.E.P.P. Garderie La Belle Nature daycare now only has one active case, according to Alberta Health. The French daycare on Akins Drive sees about 29 children between the ages of one and five, with 10 educators.
Thirteen cases of COVID-19 had been linked to this outbreak since the first case was discovered on Oct. 23.
Ijab Khanafer-Larocque, president of the parent council of the C.E.P.P. daycares in Edmonton, said the daycare immediately closed when the first case was reported. During that time, staff went over the daycare's COVID-19 requirements set out by Alberta Health Services, adding a few new ones to take measures a step further.
All educators are now expected to wear masks continuously as soon as they enter the building, there's been additional education around how to properly put on and take off a mask, and staff breaks are staggered to prevent any potential contact between cohort groups, Khanafer-Larocque said. After the centre was professionally deep cleaned, the daycare was able to reopen on Nov. 9.
"Our priorities are always going to be the safety of the children in our daycares and the safety of their families, our staff and the community at large," she said.
"We were heartbroken that our daycare would be at the centre of an outbreak, and we're obviously very heartbroken not just for educators and our staff, but also for the families who went through that stress. So we're glad that almost everyone is healthy again."
Everyone who had tested positive for COVID-19 at the Youville Home and Ironwood Estates senior homes have since recovered, according to Alberta Health.
There had been three positive cases connected to the Youville Home, and four cases linked to Ironwood Estates.
According to provincial data, St. Albert schools placed under watch (meaning they have more than five active cases) include Elmer S. Gish School, St. Albert Catholic High School and Richard S. Fowler Catholic Junior High School.
Local schools with between two to four cases include Bellerose Composite High School, École La Mission and Albert Lacombe Catholic Elementary School.
