Boyle area reports region's only COVID cases

ATHABASCA – The Athabasca region enjoyed three days with zero active COVID-19 cases last week, but now sits at three. 

On March 17, the Government of Alberta’s geospatial map showed no active cases in the region that includes Athabasca County, the Town of Athabasca, and the Village of Boyle. As of March 21, that number now sits at three and all of them are in the Boyle area. 

The active case rate per 100,000 now sits at 22.9, with a population of 13,073. The region has also seen one death. Since the first case was reported in the region April 22, 2020, 198 cases have been confirmed, with 194 recoveries. 

The Athabasca region reached its peak a week before Christmas with 48 active cases and a case rate per 100,000 of 348.6, but has fallen steadily ever since. 

The ever-changing numbers and various legislation from local, provincial and federal levels of government has caused some confusion among the public as to what rules and guidelines are in effect at different places, and when. 

Mandatory, provincewide restrictions are still in place, including wearing masks in all public places. The temporary face-covering bylaws implemented by the town and county in November were superseded by the provincial public health orders that were put in place Dec. 8. 

Across the T&C region, the County of Barrhead is up to 12 active cases; Westlock County has four cases; Lac La Biche County is at zero; however, the Hamlet of Lac La Biche still has two active cases, after recording nine deaths. 

Smoky Lake County has 34 active cases and has also seen nine deaths as a result of COVID-19. Neighbouring Thorhild County has one case; the M.D. of Lesser Slave River has four active cases, while the M.D. of Opportunity has 54 active cases, and has recorded six deaths. 

As of March 21, there have been 141,934 cases in Alberta — 5,971 are currently active. There have also been 1,963 in the province, and 22,645 across Canada, most of them elderly, and most of them in continuing care facilities. 

There were also 555 new cases reported between Saturday and Sunday — 184 of those were identified as the U.K. variant. The U.K., South African and Brazilian variants of COVID-19 now account for 1,601 of the total cases. 

Currently, 282 are in hospital with 47 of them in intensive care. 

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