First COVID-19 death of a person under 20 reported in Alberta
More than 1,000 people in hospital with COVID
For the first time, an Albertan under the age of 20 with COVID-19 has died.
Alberta Health says she was under 20 and she lived in the Central zone. The province's data site suggests she was 18 years old. Her death was among 20 reported Wednesday in the province.
"This is a sad reminder, that regardless of age, unvaccinated Albertans are at higher risk of severe outcomes," Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the chief medical officer of health, posted on Twitter in regards to the 20 new deaths. "I extend my condolences to everyone grieving today."
Across the province, 1,040 people are in hospital with the disease, including 230 in intensive care beds. Both numbers are the highest the province has seen. About 78.6 per cent of those in hospital are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
Alberta reported 1,336 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday .
The new cases were detected on 14,521 tests with a positivity rate around 9.06 per cent.
The news of the young woman's death was called "a tragic moment for our society" by Dr. Joe Vipond, a Calgary emergency room doctor speaking during a COVID-19 update, which was broadcast on YouTube Wednesday by the group Protect our Province.
"This person who otherwise would have had a good life died because they lived in Alberta. And I'm so sorry to the parents and the friends and family of this person."
Active cases declined from Tuesday's update. There are now 20,304 active cases of COVID-19 across the province. Here's a regional breakdown:
- Edmonton zone: 5,606.
- Calgary zone: 5,389.
- North zone: 3,663.
- Central zone: 3,515.
- South zone: 2,114.
- Unknown: 17.
More than 19,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered Tuesday, including 10,936 first doses, 5,746 second doses and 2,488 third doses.
As of the province's latest update, about 81.8 per cent of Alberta's eligible population has had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 73 per cent have had both. About 62.1 per cent of the province's total population have had two doses of vaccine.