COVID-related deaths near record high as hospitalizations reach highest point yet

CALGARY — Deaths due to COVID-19 have skyrocketed over the last day, nearing the highest the province has seen to date.

Since Monday, 29 new deaths have been reported. That’s the third-highest single-day total reported since the beginning of the pandemic.

WATCH: Dr. Deena Hinshaw is joined by Premier Jason Kenney and Health Minister Jason Copping to provide an update on COVID-19 in Alberta. 

While the newly reported deaths are concerning, they aren’t the only numbers that are troubling for Alberta.

There are now 42 more people being treated in hospital for COVID-19, as hospitalizations now sit at 996.

Of those in hospital with COVID-19, 222 have been admitted to the ICU.

Meanwhile, 1,519 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Alberta. The new cases come after nearly 13,600 tests were completed, for a positivity rate of around 11.1 per cent.

There are now 20,917 active cases of the virus in Alberta.

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Of active cases in Alberta, Calgary leads the province with 4,111, a decrease of 71 from Monday. While Edmonton now has 3,562 active infections, a decrease of 11 cases from the day prior.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, also announced a small expansion to those who can get a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Individuals undergoing (CAR)-T therapy, those using high dose steroids and other immunosuppressant drugs, those with Stage three or advanced HIV infection, and individuals with genetic immunodeficiency syndromes,” said Hinshaw.

Hinshaw says the province made the choice to include these individuals because their conditions make it harder for them to develop and sustain the same levels of long-lasting immunity,

Here's who else now qualifies for third doses in Alberta. #yeg #yyc #ableg #Covid19ab pic.twitter.com/kw035exRpF

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) September 21, 2021