ALBERTA— The COVID-19 data accumulated by the province since the virus arrived almost two months ago is playing a crucial role in helping keep Albertans safe.
“In the weeks since our first case was discovered in Alberta, we have learned a great deal about this virus,” Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said at a press conference on Friday, May 1.
Hinshaw noted that key findings show older individuals are at a higher risk of severe outcomes from the virus. Those over the age of 65 are almost five times more likely to need hospital care or die in comparison to younger people Hinshaw said, adding that the risk increases as people age.
The average age of those infected has been 41.5 years, Hinshaw said, although the province has seen cases in every age group.
The most common symptoms are a cough seen in 62 per cent of cases, a sore throat seen in 33 per cent of cases and fever seen in 28 per cent of cases.
Hinshaw said that 7.5 per cent of cases in the province reported no signs of symptoms at the time of testing— however, she noted this does not mean asymptomatic individuals did not go on to develop symptoms of the virus.
Findings have shown that medical conditions including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure respiratory disease and immune deficiency can lead to more severe outcomes in individuals. Hinshaw said they also took obesity and smoking into account when looking at severe outcomes.
People between the ages of 30 and 64 are more likely to have a severe outcome and need hospitalization, intensive care unit treatment or die if they had at least one of these health conditions. Two-thirds of hospitalized cases and almost three-quarters of deceased cases had at least one of these conditions.
Hinshaw said the three most common factors in cases of severe outcomes were older age, obesity and immune deficiency.
“Age is the predominant factor in severe cases and there is little we can do to change that except for protecting those who are older,” Hinshaw said. “But, we also know that many of the conditions associated with COVID related hospitalizations and deaths in younger people are things that can be addressed."
Factors such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes have support and management options available, Hinshaw said, encouraging Albertans to eat healthily, exercise regularly and to reduce or quit smoking to help mitigate the risk of severe outcomes from the virus.
“These are positive, rewarding behaviour changes that can greatly affect our health over the long term from even more deadly complications,” Hinshaw said. “I encourage every Albertan to take an active role in their health and our collective health as we respond to this pandemic.”
Hinshaw said there have been 218 new cases of COVID-19 identified in Alberta bringing the provincial total to 5,573. Of these cases, 2,359 have recovered.
Three additional deaths in continuing care homes occurred bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 92.
Hinshaw said an outbreak has been detected at the Amazon fulfillment facility in Balzac where five cases of the illness have been identified. She added that at this time it is not clear if these cases are all linked to a common exposure. Measures have been put in place to help prevent the spread of the virus in this area.
The outbreaks at the Cargill meat processing plant in High River have reached 921 cases and the JBS Food facility in Brooks has recorded 390 cases.
“The extent of these outbreaks demonstrates not only how easily this virus can spread but why it’ s so essential we uncover the source of transmission so we can find out who is at highest risk of exposure,” Hinshaw said.
The province announced the launch of the voluntary phone app ABTraceTogether, Hinshaw said, and this will help in the tracing of COVID-19 cases in the province to aid in the prevention of the spread of the virus.
"Providing this information voluntarily is crucial to our work to prevent the spread of COVID-19," Hinshaw said. "You can aid in our work to keep Albertans healthy and provide crucial information about the spread of this dangerous illness."
