11 more COVID-related deaths for Alberta over 24 hours: Hinshaw

Another 11 people died in Alberta as a result of COVID-19.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw stated at a press conference on Wednesday that nearly a dozen people died over the past 24 hours due to the ongoing pandemic.

This brings Alberta’s total coronavirus death count to 443.

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“We have lost Albertans to other causes in this time as well — and they are also mourned and missed — but the difference is that we did not have the collective power to prevent all those other deaths,” said Hinshaw.

“With COVID-19, we do have that power. Almost a quarter of all our COVID-19 deaths have happened since November 1. If we do not change our trajectory, the implications are grim.”

Over the past 24 hours, stated Hinshaw, there were 732 newly detected cases, resulting in active cases reaching 10,057, hospitalizations to 287, and ICU admissions to 57.

She also called on Albertans across the province to follow the new public health measures, as individual choices can influence the impact that the pandemic has on the province.

“The daily COVID-19 death count is a tragic reminder that COVID-19 is not just a flu, it is life and death,” she said, “and often it is the outcome of choices made by Albertans who may not even know the victims.

“Almost one in three cases are getting sick from sources we cant identify. We know that, overall as of November 15, about 40% of cases are linked to a household, or social gathering, or private event.”

She also noted that 30% of recent cases were transmitted from an unknown source, resulting in around 250 to 350 people daily getting sick without knowing from where.

“This is deadly serious. I have asked for kindness, but I also ask for firmness. The need to control our spread and protect our health system is why I ask everyone, anywhere in the province, to abide by all public health measures.”

Alberta residents are being asked to get a COVID-19 test if they are experiencing any symptoms related to coronavirus, or if they have been in close contact with a new case.

“Albertans cannot write off symptoms as just a cold. What is a mild illness to many is deadly to some,” said Hinshaw.

“Albertans cannot avoid testing because it’s inconvenient or because they don’t want to get their party host in trouble. They cannot fear that a positive result will make them unpopular with their friends. We need to view every gas pump, every walk through a mall, every pass through a store door, and every stair railing or escalator as an opportunity to prevent COVID spread.”