Two more deaths, 162 new cases of COVID-19 in Alberta

Two more people died of COVID-19 on Thursday and the province reported 162 new cases.

That brings to total number of deaths to 50 and the total number of cases to2,158.

"Wehave not yet seen the peak of COVID-19 in Alberta," Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province's chief medical officer of health, said Thursday at a news conference in Edmonton.

After seven staff members tested positive at the Foothills Medical Centre maternity ward last week, health officials moved quickly to limit the spread to staff and protect patients, Hinshaw said.

"No patients were affected and no new staff cases have been reported in the past week," she said.

"I want to assure Albertans there is no increased risk to pregnant patients coming to the Foothills Medical Centre. The maternity units continue to be an appropriate place to deliver babies and receive care."

The emergency department at theDevonGeneral Hospital will be temporarily closed starting on Mondayand will no longer acceptpatients.

The closure will help protect the 14 long-term-care residents at the hospital, Alberta Health Service said in a news release. Ten acute care beds at the hospital will be converted to long-term care beds.

People needing emergency care in the Devon areaare advised to visit the Leduc Community Hospital,WestViewHealth Centre in Stony Plain or the Misericordia Community Hospital in west Edmonton.

Limit smoking, Hinshaw urges

Hinshaw said one way people can improve their health during the pandemic would be to quit smoking or vaping and limit their alcohol consumption to two drinks a day.

COVID-19 is a respiratory virus, Hinshaw said, and smoking and e-cigarettes expose the lungs to toxic chemicals.

"It is not yet clear whether these exposures increase the risk of catching COVID-19," she said. "However, they do increase the risk of severe illness for those who get infected.

"There is growing evidence to suggest quitting smoking or vaping, even temporarily, can have positive outcomes in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Smoking increases the risk of poor outcomes from any lung infection, and this virus mainly affects the lungs.

People who smoke or vapealso frequently touching their mouth and lips, which can make it easier to transfer the virus from their hands.

"Given all these factors, I strongly recommend that anyone who smokes or vapes takes steps to quit or cut down during this pandemic," Hinshaw said.

Be mindful of alcohol intake

It's also important for people to limit their alcohol consumption, she said.

"Alcohol consumption can make many things worse, including health issues, risk-taking behaviours, mental health and violence.

"All Albertans should be mindful of how much they are drinking. No more than about two drinks per day are recommended for women, and three drinks per day for men."

Public health officials continue to closely watchoutbreaks at continuing care centres across the province, at theCargill meat-packing plant in High River andatthe Kearl Lake oilsands facility north of Fort McMurray.

The most recent deaths were aman in his 70s, a resident at the long-term care centre in High River, and a woman in her 80s who lived atthe Manoir Du Laccare home in McLennan in northern Alberta, thefifth resident there todieof COVID-19.

Twelvecases have been linked to the Kearl Lake site, according a news release from Imperial Oil on Thursday. Twoconfirmed cases remainon the site and 10 confirmed cases linked to the facility are off site.

"I would like to stress to Albertans that everything that needs to be done to keep people safe in Kearl and other camps, and food processing facilities like Cargill, is being done," Hinshaw said.

As of Thursday,34peoplehavedied from COVID-19 in the Calgary zone; eight in the Edmonton zone; seven in the North zone; and one in the Central zone.

More than 85,500 people have been tested for COVID-19.