Health-care workers on edge as number of Albertans hospitalized with COVID-19 doubles – CBC

Data obtained by CBC News reveals total has surpassed 900

Oct 19, 2023

Doctors and nurses are warning that Alberta’s health system is already under strain as COVID-19 hospitalizations surge and the respiratory virus season has yet to kick into high gear.

Internal Alberta Health Services data obtained by CBC News shows the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has surpassed 900 and has roughly doubled in about a month.

That includes all patients who are COVID-positive in hospital. ICU admissions have also risen over the past month.

This data has not been publicly available for months because the provincial government changed the way it reports COVID statistics.

“The concern for me is we’re already hitting capacity issues and we’re still relatively early on in the respiratory season,” said Dr. Arun Abbi, president of the emergency medicine section with the Alberta Medical Association.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-health-care-workers-covid-patients-doubles-1.7000171