Alberta reports 153 new COVID-19 cases, 4 new deaths

Alberta reported 153 new COVID-19 cases as the province teeters on the edge of its vaccination threshold to trigger the final stage of its reopening plan.

Under that plan, the province will lift most public health restrictions two weeks after 70 per cent of Albertans 12 and older have their first dose.

The province needs9,962 more peopleto get their first shot to hit that mark, according to updated numbers posted to Alberta Health's website Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the province administered under 5,000 first doses for the third straight day, with 4,490.

First-dose uptake has not been this low since the earliest stages of the province's vaccine rollout, when supply shortageslimited shots to select frontline healthcare workers and the most at-risk elderly populations.

The province administered another 39,264 second doses yesterday, with 22.1 per cent of eligible Albertans now fully vaccinated.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital dropped to 255, according to Wednesday's update,down from 271 on Tuesday. There were 67 patients in intensive care.

Alberta reported four new deaths Wednesday a man and woman in their 50s from the Calgary zone, a woman in her 70s from the North zone and a man in his 90s from the Calgary zone.

Active cases fell by 165 to a total of 2,639 across the province Wednesday.

Here is how active cases break down by health zone:

• Calgary zone: 1,123
• Edmonton zone: 596
• North zone: 509
• Central zone: 314
• South zone: 97

The province's positivity rate was 2.19 per cent after completing 6,708 tests on Tuesday.