Alberta reports 1,608 new cases of COVID-19, second highest number during pandemic

Alberta reported 1,608 new cases of COVID-19 and nine additional deaths on Sunday.

The total number of active cases in Alberta grew to 15,692, according to the province. There are 435people in the hospital, including95 in intensive care.

The nine deaths bringthe provincial total to 533.Five deaths werelinked to the outbreak at the Edmonton Chinatown Care Centre in Edmonton. They include a man and woman, both in their 80s, who died on Nov. 25. They had underlying conditions.

A man in his 70s who died on Nov. 26 also had underlying conditions. Anotherman and woman in their 90s who died on Nov. 27 had one or more additional conditions.

The remaining deaths include aman in his 90slinked to the outbreak at Westlock Continuing Care Centre in North zone. The province did not confirm if he had underlying conditions. Another man in his 90s in South zone who died on Nov. 28 had underlying conditions.

A man in his 80slinked to the outbreak at Laurel Heights Retirement Residence in Edmonton zone died on Nov. 28, and a man in his 80s who died Nov. 29was linked to the outbreak at Clifton Manor in Calgary zone. The province could not confirm underlying conditions foreither.

A regional breakdown of cases as of Saturday shows the impact of COVID-19 in different parts of the province:

• Calgary zone: 5,756 active cases

• South zone: 642 active cases

• Edmonton zone: 7,230 active cases

• North zone: 857 active cases

• Central zone: 1,101 active cases

• Unknown: 106 active cases

The majority of people in hospital andICU are from the Edmonton zone. There are 222 people hospitalized in Edmonton and 50 in intensive care. In comparison, Calgary has 138 people inhospital and 33 in intensive care. The remaining zones' hospitalizations are in double digits.