Barrhead’s number of active COVID cases remains at nine

The County of Barrhead region's number of active COVID-19 cases remains at nine.

That is according to the provincial coronavirus status map. The map does not differentiate where the cases originate from the town or county.

This is despite that there was a new record of 1,887 new cases, including 15 deaths over a 24-hour period.

The map states that there have been 42 cases within the County of Barrhead area. Thirty-one have been reported as recovered.

There are currently no outbreaks at schools or senior living facilities in the area. However, in nearby Westlock and Lac Ste. Anne Counties there are outbreaks reported at Mayerthorpe'sExtendicare and Westlock's Continuing Care facility.

Once again Edmonton has the unfortunate dishonour of leading the province with 10,194 active cases followed by Calgary at 7,379.

The North Zone, which Barrhead is part of, reports 11,287 active cases, with 34 requiring hospitalization. Four are in intensive care. Fifty-six deaths have also been reported due to the virus.

In neighbouring Westlock County, 28 active cases are reported. Woodlands County reports no active cases and 48 active cases are reported in Lac Ste Anne County. Elsewhere in our readership area, in Athabasca, the provincial map shows 32 active cases.

The recond numbers come the same day the province announced through a press briefing that the province will receive 3,900 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine in the next 24 to 48 hours and expects to get another 25,350 doses at the start of next week. Attending the briefing were Health Minister Tyler Shandro and Municipal Affairs Deputy Minister Paul Wynnyk along with chief medical officer Deena Hinshaw.

"I said last week that there was a glimmer of good news with the expected arrival of the first small shipment of vaccines this week. Today, I am here to confirm that the news is a lot bigger and it's a lot better," Shandro said.

He added that the province will begin immunizing ICU doctors and nurses, respiratory therapists and eligible continuing-care staff in Edmonton and Calgary.

"We chose those locations because that is where the case numbers are the largest and the health system is facing the greatest challenges," he said. "We are going to give the system some real help in dealing with those challenges."

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires two doses to be effective.

However, Shandro said since the province will be receiving additional doses soon, all 29,000 could be used as first does, adding the process of giving the health professionals the first does will be completed by the end of December.

"Making this announcement is the greatest privilege that I've had as health minister because it's the first real ray of light in the dark night that our health-care professionals have lived through for 10 months now," he said.

Wynnyk, who is also chair of the province's COVID-19 vaccine task force, since the vaccines are new a lot of work was done to ensure Alberta Health Services (AHS) not only has the training needed to administer them but the equipment.

"Alberta Health Services has all the other supplies needed to administer these vaccine doses for several months, so we are all well-positioned to ensure vaccinations goes smoothly," he said. "We are truly, truly well prepared. "Our work is far from over, but I am confident in our efforts thus far, and I truly look forward to the weeks ahead as we start to take the steps that will end this pandemic."

Hinshaw, while sharing the optimism of what the Pfizer and other vaccines from Moderna and other companies if approved by Health Canada means in the fight against the virus, said it was important for Albertans to continue their efforts to bring the cure of infections down.

The R-value, or reproduction number, over the past seven days averaged 0.98.

She said that while it is a positive sign that the R-value has dropped below one, to make a dent in the number of active cases it needs to be a minimum of at least 0.8 if the province expects a drop in the number of daily active cases reported.

“We are still many months away from seeing widespread protection against COVID-19, which means the steps we are taking now to slow the spread and bend the curve are still critical,” Hinshaw said. “For the time being, we remain each other’s vaccine and best defence.”

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com