COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
The province is immunizing Albertans as quickly as our supplies allow. Continue to follow all health guidelines in place to protect each other and the health-care system.
Latest updates
Over the last 24 hours, 505 new cases were identified.
There are 264 people in hospital due to COVID-19, including 43 in intensive care.
There are 5,084 active cases in the province.
To date, 133,086 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19.
In the last 24 hours, there was one additional COVID-related death reported.
The testing positivity rate was 4.8 per cent.
There was an increase of 10,934 tests (3,564,100 total) for a total of 1,863,885 people tested.
All zones across the province have cases:
Calgary Zone: 1,972 active cases and 51,050 recovered
South Zone: 647 active cases and 6,530 recovered
Edmonton Zone: 1,231 active cases and 53,102 recovered
North Zone: 750 active cases and 12,095 recovered
Central Zone: 475 active cases and 10,205 recovered
Nine active cases and 104 recovered cases in zones to be confirmed
Additional information, including case totals, is online.
Alberta has identified 91 additional cases of variants of concern, bringing the provincial total to 1,188.
Currently, 297 schools, about 12 per cent, are on alert or have outbreaks, with 1,241 cases in total.
212 schools are on alert, with 411 total cases.
Outbreaks are declared in 85 schools, with a total of 830 cases.
In-school transmission has likely occurred in 214 schools. Of these, 113 have had only one new case occur as a result.
There are currently 94 active and 9,221 recovered cases at long-term care facilities and supportive/home living sites.
To date, 1,231 of the 1,957 reported deaths (63 per cent) have been in long-term care facilities or supportive/home living sites.
COVID-19 vaccination program
As of March 17, 418,663 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Alberta. This is 9,468 doses per 100,000 population. There are now 92,378 Albertans fully vaccinated with two doses.
More than 250 pharmacies will now offer immunizations, with further expansions by the end of the month.
Community physicians will offer vaccinations in their clinics starting in April.
Starting March 19, AHS will open bookings for all remaining birth years in the 2A cohort.
Information on eligibility for Phase 2B and 2C is now available.
Alberta’s phased approach to vaccination focuses first on priority health-care workers and those who are at highest risk of severe outcomes.
Step 2 restrictions in effect
Updated health measures are in place for retail, hotels and community halls, performance groups, and youth sports, performance and recreation.
Funding for Alberta’s critical workers
The Critical Worker Benefit provides $1,200 to approximately 380,000 public and private sector workers in Alberta.
This includes workers in health care, social services, education and private sectors who deliver critical services to Albertans or support food and medical supply chains.
The funds are applied for by employers in the private sector, or automatically distributed to qualifying employees in the public sector.
Schools
Strong public health measures remain in place to support the health and safety of students, teachers and staff.
COVID Care Teams outreach
If you or others in your home have been directed to self-isolate/quarantine by Alberta Health Services and are unable to do so safely at home, please contact 211 to discuss options, including accessing an assigned hotel to safely isolate (free of charge). Financial assistance may also be available in the amount of $625, upon completion of the self-isolation period.
Enforcement of public health measures
The government has granted certain Alberta peace officers and community peace officers temporary authority to enforce public health orders.
Not following mandatory restrictions will result in fines of $1,000 per ticketed offence and up to $100,000 through the courts.
Albertans downloading tracer app
All Albertans are encouraged to download the secure ABTraceTogether app, which is integrated with provincial contact tracing. The federal app is not a contact tracing app.
Secure contact tracing is an effective tool to stop the spread by notifying people who were exposed to a confirmed case so they can isolate and be tested.
As of March 18, 310,885 Albertans were using the ABTraceTogether app, 66 per cent on iOS and 34 per cent on Android.
Secure contact tracing is a cornerstone of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy.
MyHealth Records quick access
Parents and guardians can access the COVID-19 test results for children under the age of 18 through MyHealth Records (MHR) as soon as they are ready.
More than 500,000 Albertans have MHR accounts.
Influenza immunization
All Albertans, especially seniors and those at risk, are encouraged to get immunized against influenza.
To date, 1,565,155 Albertans have received their flu shot.
Addiction and mental health supports
Confidential supports are available. The Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642 and the Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322 operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Resources are also available online.
The Kids Help Phone is available 24-7 and offers professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people by texting CONNECT to 686868.
Online resources provide advice on handling stressful situations and ways to talk with children.
Family violence prevention
A 24-hour Family Violence Information Line at 310-1818 provides anonymous help in more than 170 languages.
Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence is available at 1-866-403-8000, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
People fleeing family violence can call local police or the nearest RCMP detachment to apply for an Emergency Protection Order, or follow the steps in the Emergency Protection Orders Telephone Applications (COVID-19).
Information sheets and other resources on family violence prevention are at alberta.ca/COVID19.
Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.
Quick facts
Legally, all Albertans must physically distance and isolate when sick or with symptoms.
Good hygiene is your best protection: wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face, cough or sneeze into an elbow or sleeve, and dispose of tissues appropriately.
Please share acts of kindness during this difficult time at #AlbertaCares.
Alberta Connects Contact Centre (310-4455) is open Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.