COVID-19: Alberta reports youngest pandemic death, more than 1,000 Albertans in hospital

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Alberta has reported its youngest death from COVID-19 to date as hospitalizations and ICU admissions hit new records.

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An 18-year-old in the Central Zone was among the 20 deaths reported Wednesday.

“This is a tragic moment for our society because it didn’t have to be this way and this person, who otherwise would’ve had a good life, died because they lived in Alberta and I’m sorry to the parents, friends and family of this person,” Dr. Joe Vipond said during a Protect our Province livestream.

More than 1,000 Albertans are in hospital due to the virus for the first time. The province announced a record high 1,040 hospitalizations on Wednesday — an increase of 44 from the previous day. Intensive care unit numbers also saw a jump with 230 Albertans in ICU.

The provincial government reached out to Ottawa on Tuesday asking for help with relocating COVID-19 patients to other provinces if necessary. Premier Jason Kenney told media on Tuesday that the request was just precautionary.

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“We do not currently need the support, and we do not have an imminent need for it, but it’s prudent to plan for things in case we reach a worst case scenario,” Kenney said.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley responded to the premier’s claim on Tuesday calling it false and that the UCP’s call for help is “unforgivably late.” She added that hospitals needed the additional critical care staff requested in the government’s call for help weeks ago.

The province reported 1,336 new cases of the virus on Wednesday, bringing the active caseload in Alberta to 20,304 — including 5,606 in the Edmonton Zone and 5,389 in the Calgary Zone.

The province entered the second day operating its restrictions exemption program and as of end of day Tuesday 81.8 per cent of Albertans aged 12 and up have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Seventy-three per cent of eligible Albertans — 62.1 per cent of the province’s population — are fully vaccinated.

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Meanwhile, a group that oversees the practice of medicine in Alberta says it has told at least seven doctors who were spreading misinformation about COVID-19 that their behaviour was unprofessional.

Scott McLeod, registrar with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, says the regulator has also spoken to doctors who gave into pressure from patients wanting an exemption letter — not grounded in clinical evidence — to avoid having to wear masks or vaccinations.

McLeod says the college is to publish a letter this week addressed to physicians and the public to reiterate its support for vaccines and public health restrictions put in place to try to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The college says the doctors who were warned had been spreading misinformation on social media platforms or elsewhere.

McLeod says it’s disappointing to see that type of behaviour and noted it has a significant effect because doctors have a powerful voice in society.

He adds the number of doctors painting a false narrative in the province is unprecedented.

McLeod says if doctors don’t stick to basic science that outlines how to protect people during a pandemic, the public and other physicians can file an official complaint with the college.-

– With files from The Canadian Press

ktaniguchi@postmedia.com