The Alberta government was relieved of its mandate for a mask, among other measures, last month when it proceeded to Step 2 of lifting restrictions on public health. They are still required by certain regulations, such as public transportation and facilities operated by the Alberta Health Services. On Wednesday, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief health practitioner, told reporters that she continues to wear masks when in public – sometimes a medical-grade mask, depending on where she is or who is around. “I will encourage people to take into account their environment – their own risk factors, the risk factors around them – and the fact that transmission is increasing. To be part of protecting our communities right now, coverage is “A very prudent step we can all take,” Hinshaw told a news conference on COVID-19 on Wednesday. From April 5 to April 11, 37 deaths from COVID-19 were reported at Alberta Health. A total of 4,141 Alberts have died from the disease since the pandemic began. There are 1,053 Alberts in hospital with COVID-19, including 48 patients in the intensive care unit, as of April 11. These numbers are higher than a week ago, when there were 990 people in the hospital, of which 44 in the ICU. Health Secretary Jason Copping said Alberta may see further hospitalization in the coming weeks, but that the health care system is ready for that. “We do not expect the impact we saw on the initial Omicron wave in December and January,” Copping said. “We have high levels of vaccination and recent exposure to Omicron, as well as greater access to new therapies.” The seven-day PCR test rate is 26.62 percent, up slightly from 26.3 percent last week. Public health officials reported 6,181 new cases of COVID-19 last week. However, the number of cases includes only positive results of PCR tests, so it is believed that more virus is circulating in the community. Sewage monitoring data show that virus levels are rising in Calgary and Edmonton and in many, but not all, of the smaller centers being monitored, Copping said.
Alberta to stop using Sotrovimab: Hinshaw
Alberta will stop using Sotrovimab, a treatment for COVID-19, because there is uncertainty about its effectiveness against Omicron BA.2 subtype – the province’s dominant COVID-19 strain, Hinshaw said. BA.2 subtype currently accounts for over 80 percent of all new COVID-19 cases, so the county needs to adapt its treatment approach, he said. “If you are taking Sotrovimab, rest assured it is a safe drug and can offer some benefit to those who have taken it,” Hinshaw said. “There is no concern for these people.” Sotrovimab, approved by Health Canada last July, is a monoclonal antibody that attaches to the new coronavirus’s protein and prevents it from entering and infecting healthy cells, according to Health Canada Website. In Alberta, it is given to people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are not being treated but are at high risk of being hospitalized or dying from the disease, according to the AHS Website. Alberta, meanwhile, will use Paxlovid and Remdesivir for early outpatient treatment for COVID-19, Hinshaw said.
Easter gatherings
As Alberts prepare for family reunions this weekend, Hinshaw wants people to take proper precautions. “Indoor social gatherings pose a higher risk of transmission if there is someone contagious,” he said. “We also know that people benefit from spending time with people they care about.” Hinshaw suggested that Alberts consider who they would gather with and what precautions they could take to keep people safe while celebrating, such as gathering outdoors (weather permitting) and staying home when they were sick.
