Alberta reports 179 new cases of COVID-19 on 1st weekend of Stage 2 reopening
Alberta reported 179 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday and four more deaths as many enjoyed the first weekend of Stage 2 of the province's reopening plan.
Thursday marked the implementation of looser restrictions, allowing for indoor dining, gyms and larger outdoor gatherings.
Alberta reported 290 people in hospital with the illness on Saturday — down six from the previous day. Of those, 74 were in intensive care unit beds.
Including the four additional deaths, Alberta has now lost 2,269 people to COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Of the deaths, a woman and two men were in their 50s, and one man was in his 60s. The deaths took place on Thursday.
Provincial labs completed 5,476 tests, for a positivity rate of around 3.3 per cent.
The province saw an overall drop of 282 total active cases, down to 3,247.
Here is how active cases break down by health zone:
Calgary zone: 1,330
Edmonton zone: 839
North zone: 569
Central zone: 381
South zone: 128
Unknown: 0
As of Saturday, 3,336,850 doses of vaccine had been administered, as the province approaches the 75 per cent vaccination mark.