Five active cases of COVID-19 identified in County of Barrhead

While there hasn't been much change in the number of active cases of COVID-19 within the County of Barrhead, the provincial data shows that local cases are nonetheless going up as recoveries continue to increase. 

Currently, there are five active cases of COVID-19 identified within the County of Barrhead, according to the geospatial map that indicates how many cases of the novel coronavirus have been identified in municipalities across Alberta. The map also states there have been 43 recoveries and two deaths for a total of 50 cases. 

Compare that to Dec. 29, when there were four active cases, 40 recoveries and two deaths. In other words, there have been four additional cases identified, though three individuals have recovered. 

There are no active cases identified in Woodlands County, but the Town of Whitecourt currently has 33 active cases and 67 recoveries. One person has also died over the past week. 

In Lac Ste. Anne County, there are 82 active cases, 231 recoveries and eight deaths. 

On Thursday, Premier Jason Kenney announced that all K-12 students throughout the province will resume classes as planned on Jan. 11. 

Grade 7-12 students had been learning from home since Nov. 30 (with the obvious exception of the winter break), while K-6 students had shifted to at-home learning from Jan. 4-8. 

Kenney said the latest evidence showed there had been a drop in cases among all school-age groups and in-school transmission of COVID-19 had been low in any case. 

“I know that some of you might feel anxious about putting your backpacks on and going back to class on Monday, but it’s important to note that between September and the winter break, only 0.04 per cent of students and school staff tested positive for COVID-19,” he said. 

However, Kenney announced that the current province-wide restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings, as well as the operation of many businesses, recreational facilities and organizations, will remain in place until Jan. 21. 

With another 968 cases being identified across Alberta and the positivity rate sitting at 6.4 per cent, Kenney said more time was needed to determine what impact the holidays had on testing and the spread of COVID-19. 

He also pointed out that hospitalizations remain high, with 871 Albertans in hospital and 139 in the ICU. (Incidentally, the death toll now stands at 1,217.) 

Kenney acknowledged that many Albertans would be frustrated to hear such restrictions are being extended in light of the recent controversy around MLAs and political staffers leaving the province for holidays. 

“I have heard Albertans loud and clear: after all of the terrible sacrifices that people have made for 10 months, it was insulting for government leaders to holiday out of the country,” he said. 

“But that frustration cannot stop hard decisions that must be made to protect public health.”