Alberta adds 50 new variant cases in four days as COVID-19 positivity rate ticks up – CTV
February 16, 2021
EDMONTON — Spread of the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant continued in Alberta over the Family Day long weekend, with the province confirming 50 new cases.
The additions, which bring the province’s total to 221, accumulated over a four-day period beginning Friday at an average of 12 new variant cases per day.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, who announced the new cases during her Tuesday afternoon briefing, said she was concerned about the growing number of variant cases not linked to travel and instead identified through community spread.
“We haven’t been able to finish the investigations for those cases identified over the weekend. For the (previously identified cases), it’s about half and half,” said Dr. Hinshaw.
She said many of the new cases were discovered through “robust contract tracing” because they were close contacts of already identified cases.
