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Alberta projects 250 residents in intensive care later this month due to COVID-19

"I also want everyone to know that Alberta's pandemic response is second-to-none in North America," Premier Jason Kenney said.
Premier Jason Kenney

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says Alberta Health Services modeling shows there will be 250 Albertans in intensive care later this month due to COVID-19.

On Wednesday night during an emergency debate in the Alberta Legislature, Kenney gave Albertans their first look at modeling numbers put forward by AHS.

The province is preparing for the worst-case scenario, which would require 1,200 ICU beds and 925 ventilators, which AHS is planning to have in place by late April. Right now, the province also has 8,500 acute care beds, and they will free up an extra 2,250 acute beds for COVID-19 patients by April 22, by delaying surgeries and using other measures.

Kenney said the province has all of the staff and resources it will need to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. AHS currently has a four-month supply of gloves, masks and other medical equipment and has ordered another two million N95 masks.

Kenney said things will get worse before they get better.

"I also want everyone to know that Alberta's pandemic response is second-to-none in North America," he said.

“We are confident in our capacity to cope. We are confident at this stage that we will have excess hospital and health care capacity to deal with the peak of infections."

The premier said the highest number of COVID-19 patients are expected to be admitted into Alberta hospitals around May 13.

Along with ensuring the province has the proper supplies to fight the pandemic, Kenney is preparing for the worst-case scenario and is planning to assemble backup facilities if hospitals become too crowded. The premier said he could call on the military to put together these spaces.

Kenney said AHS modeling on the pandemic will be released next week. 


Jennifer Henderson

About the Author: Jennifer Henderson

Jennifer Henderson is the editor of the St. Albert Gazette and has been with Great West Media since 2015
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