WESTLOCK — Three more people in the Westlock area have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two days.
There are 24 active COVID-19 cases out of a total of 98 cases recorded since the start of the pandemic. One person, a male resident at the Westlock Continuing Care Centre in his 90s, has died, and 73 others have recovered.
The rate of active cases per 100,000 people sits at 175.5 for the area, which includes the Town of Westlock, Westlock County and the Village of Clyde.
In the province, 1,566 new cases were identified out of 16,800 tests for a positivity rate of 9 per cent. There are 20,163 active cases in Alberta.
Hospitalizations rose to 682, and 124 people are in ICU. Thirteen people have died since yesterday. The death toll in Alberta reached 666.
‘Stigma and compassion’
Alberta’s chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw asked Albertans to be more considerate in their reactions.
“We continue to hear reports of communities or ethnic groups being stigmatized, or of healthcare workers or their families being singled out as uniquely contagious. We are all equally at risk. COVID-19 does not care about a person’s occupation, race or religion,” she said.
As for the new measures placed right before the holidays: “this is our only option” since social gatherings cause most COVID-19 transmission.
“In a year filled with so many sacrifices, it seems unfair to ask for more.”
Hinshaw said people can share their socially distant, no gathering ways to celebrate the holidays via the #albertacares hashtag on social media.
COVID is affecting Hanukkah, Christmas & Kwanzaa plans – but it doesn’t need to ruin the holiday. I’d like to hear how you’re planning to celebrate safely. As you come up with ideas, please share them with us using the hashtag #AlbertaCares to help others as well. (8/8)
— Dr. Deena Hinshaw (@CMOH_Alberta) December 10, 2020
