COVID-19 outbreaks active at all Calgary hospitals: AHS
Alberta Health Services (AHS) says cases of COVID-19 have been found at the Alberta Children's Hospital, which means all hospitals in the city of Calgary are on outbreak status.
The agency says the outbreak at the facility was declared on Jan. 18 after four patients tested positive for COVID-19.
There are no details about the patients nor the unit where the outbreak was declared.
AHS says there are outbreaks at almost two dozen other units at different hospitals within Calgary city limits:
- Six units at the Foothills Medical Centre are on outbreak, affecting 23 patients;
- Five units at the Rockyview General Hospital are on outbreak, affecting 34 patients and three health-care workers;
- Four units at the Peter Lougheed Centre are on outbreak, affecting 20 patients; and
- Three units at the South Health Campus are on outbreak, affecting nine patients.
Officials say outbreak measures are in place for all areas where cases have been identified, including isolating infected patients in designated rooms.
"All at-risk patients on each unit have been tested," AHS wrote on its website. "Contact tracing for patients and health-care workers potentially exposed to these individuals is ongoing."
'HANDFUL' OF SURGERIES POSTPONED
While an outbreak was just recently declared at the Alberta Children's Hhospital, officials say it is not the reason that any surgeries or procedures are being delayed.
"There have been a handful of surgical postponements at Alberta Children’s Hospital, all due to patient or family illness," said an AHS spokesperson in an email to CTV News.
"There have been no planned or scheduled surgical postponements by AHS."
Dr. Verna Yiu, AHS CEO, says the health-care system is facing a new challenge posed by the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
"We are seeing signs that our ICU teams can expect to see more patients needing their care in the coming weeks," she said Thursday.
"In the past seven days, the number of COVID patients requiring ICU has increased by about 18 per cent."
Yiu says the Omicron wave is also infecting fully vaccinated Albertans.
"While the risk of hospitalization and severe outcomes is lower if you are fully immunized, we are still seeing breakthrough cases," she said.
"This really highlights the need for everyone to follow public health measures – stay home when not feeling well, wear a mask in public places and remain vigilant at all times."
AHS also advises everyone, if they are feeling unwell, to avoid visiting friends and loved ones who are in hospital.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Monkeypox in Canada: Act now to stop it, expert urges, before it's too late
With 26 cases of monkeypox now confirmed in Canada, health officials warn that number will likely grow in the coming days and weeks. However, one expert says the outbreak can be stopped if the country works quickly to get it under control.

BREAKING | Supreme Court rules Quebec City mosque killer to be eligible for parole in 25 years
Canada's highest court has ruled that Alexandre Bissonnette, who murdered six people at the Quebec City mosque in 2017, will be eligible for parole after 25 years.
New firearms bill coming imminently from federal public safety minister
Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino will table new firearms legislation as early as next week, according to advance notice given to the House of Commons.
She smeared blood on herself and played dead: 11-year-old reveals chilling details of the massacre
An 11-year-old survivor of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, feared the gunman would come back for her so she smeared herself in her friend's blood and played dead.
Man fatally shot by police near Toronto elementary school; SIU says BB gun recovered
One man is dead after being shot by police near a Toronto elementary school on Thursday afternoon. The incident sent hundreds of students into lockdown.
Canadian gymnast alleges sexual, emotional abuse by coach
Former Canadian gymnast Abby Pearson Spadafora said on Thursday she had suffered years of abuse at the hands of Olympic coach Dave Brubaker and his wife Elizabeth and called for an independent investigation of the sport.
Ancient volcanoes may have created a rare resource for lunar explorers
Ancient volcanic eruptions on the moon could provide an unexpected resource for future lunar explorers: water.
NRA opens gun convention in Texas after school massacre
The National Rifle Association begins its annual convention in Houston on Friday, and leaders of the powerful gun-rights lobbying group are gearing up to "reflect on" -- and deflect any blame for -- the deadly shooting earlier this week of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Views of NATO still strong in Canada, Germany: Nanos survey
A recent survey of Canadians and Germans shows both groups hold largely favourable views of NATO, at a time when more countries are looking to join the military alliance amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.