Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Wednesday, April 14

The latest COVID-19 numbers and restrictions:

• Alberta reported 1,412 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, after hitting the highest daily total this year with 1,521 new cases on Friday. 
• Alberta's active cases total now sits at 15,569 — more than Quebec's tally of 13,660 but less than Ontario's total of 36,808. Quebec has roughly double Alberta's population, while Ontario has more than three times the people.
• Variant cases continue to surge and are now the dominant strains of the virus in Alberta, accounting for 52.6 per cent of total active cases.
• Grade 7 to 12 students at Calgary public and Catholic schools will shift to online learning on Monday, due to a large increase in COVID-19 cases among students in that age group. 

(Note the latest daily count of new cases in the above chart will usually vary slightly from the net new cases Alberta Health announces each day. For more on why, click here.)

• There are 420 people in hospital, 92 of whom are in intensive care, and eight more people have died for a total of 2,029 deaths in the province.
• The provincial positivity rate is 9 per cent, and the R-value is 1.12, meaning that, on average, each person with COVID-19 will infect more than one other person.
• Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said that if case and hospitalization growth does not slow soon, further public health measures may be required. 
• Hinshaw encouraged all Albertans to get vaccinated as soon as they can.

The latest on vaccines:

• Alberta crossed the threshold for one million vaccine doses given on Wednedsay, with a total of 1,004,123 vaccine doses delivered and 194,012 people who have been fully immunized with two doses of vaccine.
• Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Monday the province is on track to give 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine a week.
• Phase 2C of the rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines began on Monday, expanding to include 240,000 nurses, doctors, dentists and any health-care workers in patient care facilities or providing direct patient care in the community.
• Other groups in 2C, like residents and support staff at congregate living facilities at risk for large outbreaks like correctional facilities, homeless shelters, meat-packing plants and group homes, and caregivers of Albertans at risk of severe outcomes, are expected to begin in the following weeks. 

Albertans need to follow health guidance while waiting for vaccinations

4 years ago

Duration 2:43

Dr. Deena Hinshaw explains the efficacy of the different vaccines approved in Canada and why Albertans can't let their guard down against the virus until mass vaccinations are complete.

• Phase 2 of the AstraZeneca-Oxford rollout began April 6, to Albertans born from 1957 to 1966 who do not have chronic underlying health conditions. They can also choose to wait for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to become available to their age group when Phase 2D opens in May.
• Hinshaw and other health officials have urged all Albertans to reach out for a vaccine appointment as soon as they are eligible, regardless of the type.
• The government warns that until most Albertans are protected, fully vaccinated people must still follow all health measures, including participating in no indoor gatherings, keeping two metres apart, wearing a mask in public and staying home when sick.

The latest on more dangerous variants:

• Alberta reported 778 new cases involving variants of concern on Wednesday.
• There are 8,197 active variant cases, more than 52 per cent of active cases.
• 4,688 people have recovered and 47 people have died from variant infections.
• As of Wednesday, Alberta had had 12,765 cases linked to variant B117, first detected in the United Kingdom. Another 29 cases have been linked to variant B1351, first detected in South Africa, and 138 cases have been linked to variant P1, which is now spreading widely in Brazil.

The latest on restrictions and reopenings:

• Amid the surging COVID-19 and variant cases, last week the Alberta government reimposed Step 1 restrictions, including closing restaurants and bars to in-person dining, lowering retail store capacity to 15 per cent and banning low-intensity group fitness activities.
• When it comes to easing public health restrictions due to COVID-19, Kenney said Monday that when:
  • 50 per cent of Albertans are vaccinated, some restrictions would be eased (which he predicted would be around the end of May).
  • 64 per cent are vaccinated, further loosening of restrictions (with masking and distancing still encouraged).
  • 72 per cent of people are vaccinated, Alberta would be in full recovery with no distancing or masks.

See which regions are being hit hardest:

Here is the detailed regional breakdown of active cases as reported Wednesday by the province:

• Calgary zone: 7,166, up from 6,938 reported on Tuesday (57,130 recovered).
• Edmonton zone: 3,960, up from 3,717 (55,938 recovered).
• North zone: 2,067, up from 2,005 (14,038 recovered).
• South zone: 915, down from 936 (8,062 recovered).
• Central zone: 1,402, up from 1,346 (11,518 recovered).
• Unknown: 59, down from 145 (26 recovered).

You can see active cases by local health area on the following interactive map. Scroll, zoom and click on the map for more information:

Find out which neighbourhoods or communities have the most cases, how hard people of different ages have been hit, the ages of people in hospital, how Alberta compares to other provinces and more in: Here are the latest COVID-19 statistics for Alberta — and what they mean.

Here are the latest Alberta COVID-19 stories:

How Alberta compares to other provinces and territories:

• For the latest on what's happening in the rest of Canada and around the world, see here.