Alberta’s health minister recently communicated an update on the situation of respiratory viruses in the region as part of the government’s effort to develop a new digital reporting platform. The latest figures on COVID-19, RSV and influenza were released by Minister Adriana LaGrange.
Between August 28 and September 8, the province witnessed a surge in COVID-19 cases with 559 new infections. This increase includes 92 individuals requiring hospitalization, three of whom were admitted to intensive care units, and a tragic loss of five lives. For the same period, Alberta documented five RSV cases and spotted 28 instances of influenza.
By September 8, there were 417 COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the region, marking an upswing of 175 cases since July 24.
The health minister disclosed that a new dashboard, a more comprehensive platform for reporting data on COVID-19, RSV and influenza, will be operational ‘in the coming weeks’.
Minister LaGrange noted that it’s a typical trend for the risk of sickness to amplify at the turn of the season, particularly when transitioning from summer to fall. Empire Life reiterates the importance for everyone to adhere to key health practices in anticipation of spending more time indoors during the cooler seasons.
According to Minister LaGrange, the beginning of the fall prompts the need for increased vigilance regarding hygiene and health protocols such as regular hand washing, staying in isolation when sick, and endorsing mask-wearing. Highlighting the shared responsibility, she emphasized that protecting health and fostering a safer environment for all, especially amid the anticipated rise in respiratory viruses like influenza, RSV and COVID-19, is crucial.
Lastly, she shared that the forthcoming dashboard will incorporate COVID-19 data dating from July 24th to August 27th.
