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COVID-19 cases increase in St. Albert; decrease in Morinville, Sturgeon County

Hospitalizations and ICU numbers increased in Alberta between Aug. 16 and Aug. 23.
2408 COVID screen (for Aug. 31 paper) CC
COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU numbers have increased across the province. The number of new cases of COVID-19 in St. Albert saw a slight increase. SCREENSHOT/Photo

The number of new COVID cases in St. Albert increased slightly, while Sturgeon County and Morinville saw slight decreases, according to the province's weekly data update today.

Between Aug. 16 and Aug. 23, 37 new cases were identified in St. Albert, the province reported Aug. 24. St. Albert had 29 cases the week prior.

The new seven-day case rate per 100,000 was 53.2, an increase from the 41.7 case rate per 100,000 reported by the province on Aug. 17.

No new deaths have occurred among St. Albert residents, the province reported. The number of St. Albertans who have died from COVID remained at 88.

Case numbers in Sturgeon County were similar to last week, according to the province's Aug. 24 update. Between Aug. 16 and Aug. 23, eight new cases were reported in the county, compared to nine the week before.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 is 28.6, a decrease compared to the week prior, which was 32.2 per 100,000. 

No deaths were reported in the county. The total number of county residents who have died from COVID remained at 18.

The prevalence of COVID-19 in Morinville has decreased again, the province reported on Aug. 24.

Two new cases of COVID were reported in Morinville between Aug. 16 and Aug. 23, compared to four cases reported the week prior. 

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 in Morinville fell to 17.5, according to the Aug. 24 update. In last week's provincial update, the seven-day case rate in Morinville stood at 35 per 100,000.

No new deaths were reported in Morinville. The number of town residents who have died from COVID remained at 16, the province reported Aug. 24.

Hospitalizations and ICU numbers increased in Alberta between Aug. 16 and Aug. 23.

There are 870 Albertans in hospital due to COVID, with 32 people in ICU, an increase of 52 and four, respectively, from the week prior. 

The province's data shows the seven-day positivity rate decreased slightly to 21.86 per cent, compared to 21.93 per cent reported on Aug. 17.

Twenty-seven Albertans died from COVID this week. The total number of Albertans who have died from COVID, to date, is now 4,748.

Monkeypox vaccine availability

On Aug. 10, Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced that seven additional cities are now able to administer monkeypox vaccines.

Edson, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, and St. Paul are the seven new cities as AHS has expanded vaccine availability to beyond Edmonton and Calgary.

In Alberta, monkeypox immunization is currently for those that self-identify "as belonging to the gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) community," AHS states online.

However, everybody is susceptible to monkeypox, regardless of sexuality, according to the federal government.

"Anyone can get infected and spread monkeypox if they come into close contact with someone who has the virus, regardless of sex, race, gender, or sexual orientation," the Government of Canada states on an online fact page.

"In line with international trends, the majority of cases in Canada to date are men who reported intimate sexual contact with other men. However, it's important to stress that the risk of exposure to the monkeypox virus is not exclusive to any group or setting," the online fact page states.

"Having multiple sexual partners may increase your overall risk of infection."

As of Aug. 10 — the last time AHS provided an update on the number of monkeypox cases in the province — there was 19 identified cases.

To make an appointment to receive the monkeypox vaccine in Alberta, call Health Link at 1-866-301-2668.


Jack Farrell

About the Author: Jack Farrell

Jack Farrell joined the St. Albert Gazette in May, 2022.
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