COVID case totals continue to climb in Athabasca region

ATHABASCA - The number of active cases of COVID-19 in the Athabasca region appears to be static over the course of the last week, but it seems that as soon as a recovery is noted, another active case is reported.

On Dec. 15, Athabasca County, the Town of Athabasca, and the Village of Boyle counted 99 total cases, with 55 recovered and 44 active. By Dec. 17, there were 47 active cases out of a total of 105. The next day there were 110 cases. As of Dec. 20, the area now sits at 46 active cases, 69 recovered and 115 in total, with an active case rate per 100,000 residents at 348.6 with a population of 13,196.

After having more active cases than the rest of the county last month, the Boyle area now accounts for six active cases, out of a total of 34. The total case count has gained just one there since Dec. 15. 

The Boyle area is bordered to the southeast by Smoky Lake County whose numbers are now falling — total cases now sit at 381, with 49 active cases, and three deaths reported. A week ago, the active case rate per 100,000 stood at 914.4, but is now at 581.9.

To the south, Thorhild County now has 12 active cases and 18 recovered cases, for a total of 30 overall cases.

In Westlock County, the number of active cases was at 21 Dec.20, with an active case rate at 153.6 per 100,000 residents. One man has died as a result of the virus there, and in the County of Barrhead, there have been two deaths, but the number of active cases is at just four, with 37 recovered, and an active case rate of 39.5..

To the west of Athabasca County, the M.D. of Lesser Slave River has 13 active cases and 81 recovered. To the north, the M.D. of Opportunity is at 20 active cases with 78 recoveries and a rate of 300.9. To the east, there are 32 active cases within the borders of Lac La Biche County, all within the Hamlet of Lac La Biche. There have also been two deaths.

On Sunday, Dec.13, the province implemented mandatory restrictions on gatherings and face-coverings to offset the number of active cases being reported across the province. The temporary face-covering bylaw adopted by both the Town of Athabasca and Athabasca County was activated mid-November, at a rate of 50, but the provincial public health orders introduced Dec. 8, override the municipal bylaws. 

On Dec. 20, the province reported 1,286 new cases in Alberta since the previous day, along with 10 additional deaths. There are now 90,219 active cases in Alberta, and there have been 851 deaths. There are now 760 people hospitalized, and 149 of those are in intensive care.