COVID-19 variant strain established in Alberta and spreading in all zones, Hinshaw says

The B117variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading across the province and Albertans need to continue following health restrictions to prevent a rapid increase in cases, Dr. Deena Hinshaw said at a news conference Wednesday.

Alberta'schief medical officer of healthreported 535 of 4,918active cases of the disease in the provincearelinked to the B117strainfirst identified in the U.K.

"The B117 variant is spreadingin many different contexts and many different settings," Hinshaw said. "And we're seeing higher attack rates than we typically do in settings where people are exposed.

"That variant has become established in the community," she said, adding that health officials areworking hard to slow its spread "but it is spreading in all zones in our province."

Two other variants, those first detected in Braziland South Africa, are found insmall numbers in the province and arelinked to travel, she said.

In light of theprevalence of the variant cases,Hinshawrecommendsagainst traveling to other provinces duringspring break.

"It's clearthat in many other provinces, spread of COVID-19 and variant cases in particularare escalating," she said.

"Travelling at this time out of the province risks further escalating that kind of spread, particularly as we in Alberta are seeing spread of variant cases."

WATCH | Dr. Hinshaw advises Albertans to avoid leaving the province for spring break

Albertas top doctor warns against inter-provincial travel

4 years ago

Duration 1:19

Spring break is just around the corner for many students but Dr. Deena Hinshaw is cautioning against leaving the province.

Albertahasyet to attainthevaccination coverageneeded to prevent severe outcomes in variant cases, she said.

"For the next couple of months, including spring break, we need to just hold on and protect our communities with our choices."

To date, there have been 1,097 cases identified involving variants of concern. Of those,548people haverecovered and 14 have died.

Latest case numbers

Alberta reported 479 new cases of COVID-19, 50 involving variants of the virus, and four more deaths on Wednesday.

Four people died from the disease over the last three days including a man in 80sand a man in his 70s in the Calgary zone, a man in his 40sin the south zone and and man in his 90s in the north zone.

Hinshaw noted the province is seeing far fewer deaths involvingresidents of long-term care homes, Hinshawsaid.

"It's very encouraging to see the downward trend and I think that it absolutely shows us thepowerful impact that vaccination has had onlong-term care residents, both in minimizing the chances of infections as well as preventing deaths."

About 397,500 doses of vaccines have been administered so far,Hinshawsaid.

People born in1954 or earlier will be allowed to book appointments starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, as canFirst Nations, Mtis and Inuit people born before or during 1969.