Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Friday, Dec. 10

The latest COVID-19 numbers:

• The Alberta government reported Friday:
  • There are 287new COVIDcases.
  • The total number of active cases in Alberta is4,059.
  • Alberta Health says there are 367people with COVID in hospital, including 71in intensive care.
  • The province reported one new COVID-related deathFriday a woman in her 70s with pre-existing conditionsfrom the North Zone of the province.
  • A total of 3,272Albertans have diedof COVID since the pandemic began.
• 331,097Albertansare considered to have recovered.
• There areactive alerts or outbreaks in 140schools.

• The province recorded four new cases of theomicron variant, bringing the provincial total on Friday to 23.
• Omicron was named a variant of concern by the World Health Organization. Its emergencehas prompted the return of border closures, travel restrictions and stricter testing requirements across the world.
• AHS told CBC News on Wednesday that there was no evidence of community transmission.
• Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said twomeetings Thursday and another next week have been scheduled to discuss restrictions and the state of the virus.
• Provincewide, the R-value for Nov. 8 to 28was 0.88, with a confidence interval between0.84 and 0.91.An R-value below 1.0 means transmission is nolonger growing.
• The R-value for the Edmonton zone is 0.95, and in Calgary, 0.90. In therest of Alberta the rate is0.80.
• In response to falling COVID-19 numbers across the province, the government generally only gives live media updates once a week and otherwise posts daily numbers online.

The latest on vaccines:

• Alberta Health Services tweeted Friday that it hasreceivedreports of a scam in which textsthat appear to be from AHSpromise Albertans money for getting a COVID-19 vaccine and ask for credit card information.
• AHS tweeted Wednesday that it isaware of misinformation being spread that children are being hospitalized atthe AlbertaChildren's Hospital with adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccinations.
• AHS said that is untrue and there haven't been any pediatric hospitalizations related to COVID-19 vaccination.
• Alberta is in the process ofexpanding access to vaccine booster shots to all Albertans ages 18 and older, six months out from their second dose of the vaccine, starting with select groups.
  • It opened up to those60 and older starting Monday (Dec. 6).
  • The first groups to be eligible for a third dose as of Nov. 8 were people 70 or older,First Nations, Mtis and Inuit residents and frontline health-care workers.
  • The province saysbookings for all adults over the age of 18 will open by early next year.

• As of Dec. 10,
  • 71.5per cent of the province's total population or 75.9per cent of eligible Albertans(ages five years and older) have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Out of the province's total population, 77per cent have received at least one dose, or 81.8per cent(ages5and over), according toCBC'svaccinetracker.
  • That compares with80.6per cent of the total population Canada-wide whohavereceived at least one dose of vaccine, and 75.9 per centof the total population who are fully vaccinated.Among those eligible, 84.7per cent have had one dose, and 79.9per cent are fully vaccinated.
  • The percentage of eligible people in Alberta who are vaccinated dropped on Nov. 26, when children between the ages of five to 11 were added to the population of thoseeligible.

• Children's COVID-19 vaccination appointments began Nov. 26 between the ages of 5 and 11, dropping.
  • They're being delivered to 120 vaccination clinics (notin schools).
  • Hinshawsaid on Dec. 1 that she had heard of a "concerning trend" of parents withdrawing consent for all vaccines at schoolsbecause they were worried their children could receive a COVID-19 vaccine without their knowledge.
  • "I want to be crystal clear that no child will receive any vaccine in school without their parent or guardian's consent and knowledge," Hinshaw said.
  • Children who live on a First Nations reservecan access doses through nursing stations or public health clinics.
  • Regardless of whether they are vaccinated, children ages five to 11 will not be subject to Alberta's restrictions exemption program (see below).
• Unvaccinated travellers over the age of 12 cannotboard a plane or train in Canada as of Nov. 30, and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute for most people.
  • Alberta's vaccine record now meetsthe recommended Canadian standard for domestic and international travel.

• The Alberta government is nowadvising that anyone between the ages of 12 and 29 receive the Pfizer-BioNTechvaccine rather than Moderna.
• The province said Nov. 23 it is now recommending an eight-week interval between mRNA vaccines.
• The Alberta governmentimposedthe restrictions exemption program,a voluntary vaccine passport system, as ofSept. 20tocombata disastrous fourth wave of COVID-19.
  • As of Nov. 15, anyone wanting to enter a business taking part in the programmust presentproof of vaccinationthat includes a QR code.For those over18, valid identification matching that record is also required.
  • Operators who are eligible for the program,but opt not to take part have to follow measures that include capacity limits and physical distancing.
  • As of Nov. 29, ski hills could operate outdoor activities without implementing the program. Masking are still be required in enclosed areas.
  • Ski hill operators can implement the program for indoor areas to permit indoor dining and other activities.
  • A full list of restrictions and exemptions is available on the government's website.

• Kenneysaid Friday that an announcement will come on Tuesday about plans for the distribution of rapid antigen tests.
• Pressure has been mounting for the province to share its stockpile of rapid COVID-19 tests more widely with Albertans ahead of the holidays. The federal government has supplied more than 11 million of the tests, and the province still has roughly 5.5 million in storage.
• Kenney said earlier this week that Alberta's public health rules for the holidays will bedecided shortly.
• The City of Calgary'sstate of local emergencyexpiredon Dec.2. However, the vaccine passport bylaw andface covering bylaw remain in place.
• On Nov. 15, Calgary city council voted unanimously in favour ofextending the city's mandatory vaccination policy for staff to include citizen members appointed to boards, commissions and committees.As of Dec. 1, those who are not vaccinatedare required to continue to participate in the rapid testing program on their own time and at their own expense.
• Albertapublic sector workers will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The policy, approved by the province's COVID-19 cabinet committeewill affect25,500 provincialemployees who must all submit proof of full vaccination by Nov. 30.
• AHSextended adeadline for employees, medical and midwifery staff, students, volunteers and contracted healthcare providers to comply with its mandatory immunization policy until Dec. 13.
• CBC Calgary reported on Dec. 10 that theCalgary Catholic School District says it hasused more than 10,000rapid COVID-19 test kits provided by the province so far this school year, withhalf of those beingused by staff not fully vaccinatedparticipating in the district's mandatory rapid testing program.
• Meanwhile, the Calgary Board of Educationsaid it is not providing rapid tests for staff.

The latest on surgeries, hospitals, mask bylaws and more:

• AHS has begun administering a new monoclonal antibody treatment that was recently approved by Health Canada, Hinshaw said on Nov. 9.
  • Sotrovimab is a new drug developed for treating patients with COVID-19 who have mild to moderate symptoms.
  • It is the first treatment to be offered to outpatients in Alberta.
  • AHStold CBC News on Monday that so far,it has administered Sotrovimaba total of 34 times.

See which regions are being hit hardest:

Here is thelatest detailed regional breakdownof active cases, as reported by the province on Friday:

• Calgary zone: 1,672.
• Edmonton zone: 1,172.
• Central zone:520.
• North zone:457.
• South zone:234.
• Unknown:4.

Here are the latest Alberta COVID-19 stories: