Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Wednesday, Oct. 13

The latest on COVID-19in Alberta:

• A total of 2,901Albertans have died of COVID, with 38new deaths reportedWednesday, a number not seen since Jan.12.
• Alberta reported652new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesdayout of8,620tests.
• The total number of active cases in Alberta is 14,218.
• The positivity rate was 8.3per cent.
• There were 1,027people being treated for COVID in hospital. Of those,236were in ICU.
• Alberta is reporting an R-value below 1. The R-value is the average number of COVID-19 infections transmitted by each diagnosed case.
• An R-value below 1 means transmission is nolonger growing. Provincewide, the R-value for Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 was 0.92, with a confidence interval between 0.90 and 0.94. In Edmonton zone, the R-value was 0.86 (0.83-0.90 confidence interval), while in Calgary zone it was0.93 (0.92 to 0.97). The rest of Alberta was 0.94 (0.92-0.97 confidence interval).
• 295,166Albertansare considered to have recovered from COVID-19.
• The Alberta government has released an app to scan and verify QR code vaccine records. The AB COVID Records Verifier app is available to download on Apple and Android devices.
• Albertans can get their enhanced vaccine records with a QR code online atalberta.ca/CovidRecords.
• Alberta Premier Jason Kenney thanked those who followed the rules and stuck to small or outdoorgatherings over Thanksgiving.
• Alberta Health Services said Saturday thatits scientific advisory group hasupdated its review into using ivermectin to treat COVID-19. AHSsaidexisting studies have problems and the available evidencedoesn't deem it safe.
• AHS said studies to date into using ivermectin, predominantly used in livestock species like horses and cows to control intestinal parasites and some skin parasites, on the novel coronavirus haveinadequate controlsand flawed design.
• On Thursday,Hinshaw said Alberta hospitals have seen people with extreme adverse effects after taking ivermectin.
• There were 283total patients in Alberta's ICUs on Wednesday, according to AHS,most of whom were COVID positive.
• There are 376ICU beds in Alberta, including 203additional surge spaces (a 117per cent increase over abaseline of 173).
• Provincially, ICU capacityis at 75per cent. Without the additionalspaces, provincial ICU admissions would be at 164per cent of capacity, AHS said.
• With many surgeries cancelled due to COVID-19, patients andhealth-care workers are worried about a backlog and longwait times for surgeries and other forms of treatment for gender diverse people.
• Alberta Health Services said on Sept. 17 thatthe only surgeries happening in the province are those that must be done within a three-day window.
• More than 50Alberta schools are contending with active COVID-19 outbreaks, while more than 750other schoolsare on alert for clusters of infection.

WATCH| Premier Jason Kenney announces launch of vaccination proof scanner:

Proof of vaccination scanner launches in Alberta

3 years ago

Duration 1:47

Premier Jason Kenney announced that after Nov. 15, the scannable QR code will become the only acceptable record of vaccination. Health minister Jason Copping encouraged everyone to get their QR code vaccination record.

The latest on Alberta's COVID-19 response:

• The City of Calgary is opening applications for a new grant program for local business operators, owners and entities that are impacted by the Provincial Restrictions Exemption Program.The Calgary Business Support Grant will give$2,000 per physical permanent premise.
• Two health professionals say Alberta's health system can't afford a post-Thanksgiving spike of COVID-19 infections.
• New COVID-19 modelling shows Alberta may have finally reached its pandemic peak, andif the province leaves restrictions in place and continues to increase vaccination rates, infections and hospitalizations will continue to decline.
• The City of Calgary will require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination by Nov. 1.
• This applies to allCity of Calgary employees, regardless of workplace or worksite location, including those who are remote working or have a telework agreement in place.
• The Calgary Catholic School Division board of trustees voted in favour of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees.
• The vaccine mandate applies to all all staff, including teachers, educational assistants, support staff, and custodial.
• The province announced new measures to protect children and youth from COVID-19 on Oct. 5. Contact tracing in schools will be phased in, outbreaks will be declared in schools, and rapid-test kits will be made available for parents to test younger children.
• The Calgary Board of Education will now require mandatory vaccination againstCOVID-19 for employees, volunteers and partners.
• Politicians and staff at the Alberta Legislature will all be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the time the sitting resumes on Oct. 25, government House leader Jason Nixon said Tuesday.
• The Canadian Armed Forces senteight critical care nurses to help in Alberta's intensive care units. Those nurses are set tobegin working atEdmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital.
• AHS says discussions are ongoing with the Canadian Red Cross but at least five nurses will be deployed to support acute care services at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie.
• AHS saysanother eight Red Cross nurses will be allocated to Central Zone, with four supporting the COVID-19 response at rural facilities. The other four will be in Red Deer, with two supporting the emergency department at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and two assisting with COVID-19 testing. Start dates are still being finalized and discussions are continuing with the Red Cross about additional staff that may be available.
• Albertapublic sector workers will soon be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
• The policy, approved by the province's COVID-19 cabinet committeewill affect25,500 provincialemployees who must all submit proof of full vaccination by Nov. 30.
• Employeescan be exempted if they obtain an accommodation based on the Alberta Human Rights Act or if they choose to produce a negative PCR test result,obtained at employee's expense and done within 72 hours of every scheduled workday.
• Kenneyalso said he asked for an inventory of the Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine, noting that some vaccine-hesitant Albertans have expressed a willingness to take this version. The Government of Canada has committed to securing the vaccines, but currently have no supply.

WATCH |ICU stay changes Calgary man's mind about COVID vaccine:

ICU stay changes Calgary man's mind about COVID vaccine

3 years ago

Duration 2:23

Bernie Cook was hesitant to get the vaccine when he caught COVID. His sickness gave him first-hand experience through one of Alberta's crowded ICUs. Now he's warning others to take action to avoid the same fate.

• Kenney'sgovernment imposeda voluntary vaccine passport system that took effect Sept. 20tocombat the fourth wave of COVID-19.
• Operators who are eligible for the program,but opt not to take part, will have to follow measures that include capacity limits and physical distancing (more details are provided below).
• Starting Oct. 25, proof of two doses or a negative test will be required for entry to places operating under the restrictions exemption program. Up until then, one dose or a negative test will suffice.
• Those who want to show a negative COVID-19 test rather than aproof of vaccinationmust have one that was paid for privately, notvia Alberta Health Services or Alberta Precision Laboratories.
• Kenney said on Oct. 12 thatAlbertans should expect thevaccine passport system to be in placeat least until early next year.
• A full list of restrictions and exemptions is available on the government's website.

The latest on vaccines:

• 64.9per cent of the province's total population have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or 76.2per cent of eligible Albertans.
• Out of the province's total population, 76.8per cent have received at least one dose, or 87.7per cent of those eligible.
• Canada-wide,76.8per cent of the total population havereceived at least one dose of vaccine, and 71.7per centof the total population are fully vaccinated,according to the CBC'svaccinetracker.Among those eligible, 87.7per cent have had one dose and 81.9per cent are fully vaccinated.
• Alberta is expanding the number of immunocompromised people who are eligible for a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The full list of eligible people can be found on the province's website.
• In addition, mRNA doses that's Pfizer or Moderna areavailable to Albertans travelling to a jurisdiction that does not accept visitors vaccinated withmixed doses.
• Dr. Hinshawsayspregnant people are at high risk of very serious illness and are urging them to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.

See which regions are being hit hardest:

Here is thelatest detailed regional breakdownof active cases, as reported by the province on Wednesday:

• Edmonton zone:3,281.
• Calgary zone:3,594.
• North zone: 2,845.
• Central zone:2,908.
• South zone: 1,578.
• Unknown: 12.

Here are the latest Alberta COVID-19 stories: