Alberta to reduce COVID-19 case and outbreak reporting

Alberta is adjusting the way it reports COVID-19 cases and outbreaks online.

Starting next week, data will be provided on its website once a week, every Wednesday.

“As we shift out of crisis mode and move toward an endemic response, we can make adjustments to the way we operate,” Health Minister Jason Copping said during a Wednesday COVID-19 update.

“We are at a point where trends over longer periods of time are more relevant than day-to-day fluctuations.”

WATCH: Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping and Dr. Deena Hinshaw provide a live update on COVID-19. 

Alberta health, including Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province’s chief medical officer of health, will continue to monitor data to bring forward any policy recommendations if the situation changes.

“As always, I remain committed to keeping Albertans informed and will recommend modifications if needed in the coming weeks or months,” said Dr. Hinshaw.

The adjustment comes as Alberta did not see an uptick in numbers after lifting public health measures in early February.

The overall positivity rate has declined by seven per cent and hospitalization and ICU admissions have dropped by 40 per cent, according to Copping.

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The province reported four new deaths on Wednesday but removed 16 deaths as COVID-19 was found not to be a contributing factor. The reduction puts the province’s total death toll at 4,013.

There were 593 new lab-confirmed cases of the virus found from about 3,200 tests.

Currently, 989 people are in hospital, 70 of those in the ICU.