Source:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-covid-coronavirus-november-8-1.6240984
Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Monday, Nov. 8
Alberta Health Services says it will be reducing available surge beds
CBC News · Posted: Nov 08, 2021 7:23 AM MT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago
The latest on COVID-19 in Alberta:
Alberta reported 1,300 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend. They include:
586 cases on Friday.
430 cases on Saturday.
284 cases on Sunday.
The total number of active cases in Alberta is 6,387.
13 more deaths were reported over the weekend. Since the pandemic began, 3,155 Albertans have died of COVID.
317,741 Albertans are considered to have recovered.
As of Sunday, there were 229 patients in ICU, more than half of whom are COVID positive, AHS says.
Provincially, ICU capacity (including additional surge beds) is at 79 per cent. Without the additional surge spaces, ICU capacity would be at 135 per cent.
Starting Monday, more Albertans are eligible for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Residents aged 70 and older, as well as First Nations, Metis and Inuit residents 18 years and up will be able to access the booster shots.
Third doses will be available for front-line health-care workers as well. The doses need to be booked for a time that's at least six months after the second dose.
Alberta Health Services said Saturday it will be reducing the number of available surge beds in order to redeploy staff to care for non-COVID patients, as the strain of COVID-19 on the province's ICUs decreases.
AHS will maintain ICU capacity above daily demand up to a planned maximum of 380 beds, as long as staff and physician availability allows. They will readjust if another surge of cases occurs.
As of Saturday, at least 13 restaurants in Alberta have been issued notices of closure or had their food permit suspended by Alberta Health Services for not screening patrons for vaccine status since the province's restrictions exemption program was instituted.
In the Calgary zone, two restaurants have been issued a notice of closure, while one has had its food permit suspended.
In the north zone, at least nine restaurants have faced repercussions from AHS.
In the Edmonton zone, one business has had its food permit suspended.
The south and central zones have not recorded any instances of non-compliance with the restrictions exemption program, according to the AHS website.
Alberta is reporting an R-value below 1. The R-value is the average number of COVID-19 infections transmitted by each diagnosed case...
