COVID-19 Live Updates: News on coronavirus in Calgary for March 4

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With news on COVID-19 happening rapidly, we’ve created this page to bring you our latest stories and information on the outbreak in and around Calgary.

What’s happening now

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My COVID Story: How have you been impacted by coronavirus?

Postmedia is looking to speak with people who may have been impacted by COVID-19 here in Alberta.  Have you undergone a travel-related quarantine? Have you received your vaccine, and if so did you feel any side effects? Have you changed your life for the better because of the pandemic? Send us an email at reply@calgaryherald.com to tell us your experience, or send us a message via this form.

Read our ongoing coverage of personal stories arising from the pandemic.

Calgary pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccine

This map shows all 48 Calgary pharmacies that are offering the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently the vaccine is open to all Albertans born in the year 1946 or earlier. Appointments are still necessary and can be booked by contacting the participating pharmacies. Details on booking your vaccine jab at a pharmacy can be found here.

Wednesday

Third worker dies in COVID-19 outbreak at Red Deer Olymel plant as operations resume Thursday

A third worker has died in connection to the COVID-19 outbreak at the Red Deer Olymel plant raising the death toll to four, according to the union representing employees.

The death count now exceeds those linked to the Cargill meat-packing plant outbreak last June — which remains the largest in Canada — where three workers died and more than 950 people were infected.

Olymel announced Wednesday evening it would begin gradually reopening after receiving the green light from Alberta Health Services, with slaughter operations resuming Thursday and cutting room operations restarting Friday. The reopening comes after a 14-day shutdown.

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Wednesday

Nineteen residents and staff test positive for COVID-19 variant at Edmonton’s Churchill Manor

An Edmonton continuing care facility is grappling with a COVID-19 variant outbreak.

Nineteen residents and staff at Churchill Manor have been confirmed as positive for a COVID-19 variant. Twenty-seven total COVID-19 cases have been linked to the outbreak, which was identified after a single case was first reported on Friday.

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Wednesday

Alberta to delay second dose vaccine appointments up to four months after first appointments

Alberta will follow the lead of other Canadian provinces and delay second dose appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine up to four months after first doses are administered.

The change in wait times between appointments from six to 16 weeks “is about providing the most benefit to the most people,” according to chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, who hinted at a possible “early summer timeline” for the general population to start receiving their immunizations on Wednesday.

Read more.

Wednesday

402 new cases, 12 deaths; Alberta to extend period between vaccine doses

Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided an update on the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday afternoon.

• More than 255,280 doses administered; over 89,000 Albertans fully immunized
• 402 new cases on 10,362 tests; 3.9% positivity rate
• 251 in hospital; 48 in ICUs
• 12 additional deaths; 1,902 total
• 4,649 active cases; 127,903 recovered
• Active alerts or outbreaks in 227 schools; 872 cases in these schools since Jan. 11
• Variant outbreak in Churchill Manor continuing care centre in Edmonton; 27 staff and residents have tested positive including 19 confirmed as a variant
• Alberta will extend period between first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine with goal of providing first dose as soon as possible, Hinshaw said

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You can watch the full livestream below.

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Hospitalizations and deaths in Alberta

Wednesday

Calgary to bring back adaptive roadways on Saturday

Now that the weather is warming, the City of Calgary is bringing back its adaptive roadways program.

Parts of Memorial Drive and the lower deck of the Centre Street Bridge will open to pedestrians rather than vehicles to allow more space for exercising while remaining physically distant.

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Wednesday

One dead in COVID-19 outbreak at Cardston Health Centre

One person has died in a COVID-19 outbreak at the Cardston Health Centre.

The outbreak was declared on Feb. 25, according to AHS. Four other patients have tested positive for the virus. There are no reports of any staff testing positive.

Due to the outbreak, visitation is restricted to end-of-life situations at the health centre.

A similar outbreak is being reported at the Strathmore Hospital.

In that outbreak, which was first reported on Feb. 7, six patients and two health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19. There have been no deaths associated with this outbreak, but patient visitation is limited at the hospital’s acute care unit, except in end-of-life situations.