Province identifies ‘significant’ variant outbreak, roughly 550 new variant cases
Posted Apr 3, 2021 4:25 pm.
Last Updated Apr 3, 2021 11:36 pm.
CALGARY (CityNews) – Half of the new COVID-19 cases estimated by the province Saturday are variants of concern.
The news comes as Dr. Deena Hinshaw reports a “significant” outbreak of the P1 variant in Alberta, linked to a returning traveller.
Hinshaw did not provide further detail on which specific area in the province is affected.
We are currently investigating a significant #COVID19AB outbreak in Alberta involving P.1 variants of concern (the variant that originated in Brazil), linked to a returning traveller. (1/4)
— Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health (@CMOH_Alberta) April 3, 2021
However, the chief medical officer of health did say that officials are reaching out to those at risk of direct exposure and working to limit spread.
Hinshaw added there will be an update on this situation Monday, along with the usual COVID-19 update.
On Saturday, the province provided a modified update for the numbers due to the Easter long weekend.
Alberta identified about 1,100 new cases, of which 550 were variants of concern.
Roughly 35 per cent of active cases in the province are variant cases.
The new cases come from 12,100 tests, for an estimated positivity rate of nine per cent.
Hospitalizations remain stable, while about 10,000 doses of vaccine were administered with around 685,000 delivered to date.
No new information on deaths related to COVID-19 has been released over the long weekend.
