Demand for COVID-19 testing surges in Alberta, results being delayed
CALGARY -
A surge in demand for COVID-19 testing in Alberta means some people are waiting longer than usual for results and the province is asking for patience.
"Test results are usually available within 1-4 days, but turnaround times vary between AHS zones and delays are possible due to high testing volumes," read a social media post.
A second post said Alberta Precision Laboratories is "taking steps to increase testing capacity," and priority is being given to processing tests for hospitalized patients and healthcare workers."
Anyone who can't make it to a scheduled test is asked to cancel it so the timeslot will be available for someone else.
More than 14,000 tests were done on Friday, then 12,000 on Saturday and 13,000 on Sunday.
Also on Monday, the province announced 4,740 new COVID-19 cases since Thursday, increasing active infections to 18,395.
Eighteen additional deaths were also reported on Monday, bringing the total number to 2,462.
The province was set to end testing and contact tracing in Alberta on Sept. 27 but Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw reversed that decision as case numbers swell amid a fourth wave.
There are 18,395 active cases in Alberta as of Monday afternoon, including 803 people in hospital and 198 COVID-19 patients in ICU, which is the highest numbers since the pandemic began.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Judge sentences Trump in hush money case but declines to impose any punishment
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment, an outcome that cements his conviction while freeing him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.
'Devastating beyond words': Paris Hilton shows remnants of home destroyed by L.A. fire
Socialite Paris Hilton shared a video showing her ravaged house, destroyed by the L.A. wildfires., 'I’m standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable,' Hilton wrote on Instagram.
Liberal leadership: Joly says she's focused on Trump and won't run
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will not run for Liberal leadership. Up to now, Joly was widely considered a potential successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently announced he would resign as leader of the Liberal party.
'It's pretty scary': Toronto police investigating third tow truck-related shooting this week
Toronto police say they are investigating another tow truck-related shooting in Scarborough, the third such incident in just over 24 hours.
Court annuls marriage because bride thought it was just an Instagram stunt
An Australian judge has annulled the marriage of a Melbourne couple after the bride told the court that she took part in the wedding ceremony believing it was a social media 'prank.'
'Mama is waiting for you': Woman appeals for return of 3-year-old son after ex-husband failed to bring him back to Canada
The mother of a three-year-old Toronto boy is urging her former husband who is wanted in a parental abduction investigation to bring their son back to Canada from India.
Canadian 'Super Scooper' plane grounded after hitting civilian drone over Los Angeles wildfires
A Canadian 'Super Scooper' aircraft fighting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles had to be grounded after it hit a drone flying in restricted airspace over the devastating blaze on Thursday, the local fire department said.
Mel Gibson latest celebrity to share loss of home due to wildfires
Mel Gibson's home in Malibu was destroyed by the Los Angeles wildfires while he was away recording a podcast with Joe Rogan in Austin, Texas, Gibson has revealed.
27 years after Quebec ice storm, Montrealers find themselves in L.A. wildfire's smoke
Montrealers, accustomed to ice storms, snow and cold, found themselves in Los Angeles this week as major wildfires raged throughout the region.
Edmonton
-
Oilers forward Evander Kane undergoes knee surgery
Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane was expected to need four to eight weeks of recovery time after undergoing successful knee surgery, the NHL team said Friday.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: Staying warm with some weekend snow
Precipitation is playing a bigger factor in the forecast over these next few days than it has in a while.
-
5 hurt in Red Deer industrial fire
Five people are in hospital following an explosion Thursday at a Red Deer industrial site.
Lethbridge
-
Lethbridge police seek help locating suspect in Wednesday night robbery
Lethbridge police are seeking public assistance to locate a suspect in releation to a robbery.
-
Southern Alberta woman sentenced to house arrest, curfew for fatal collision
A southern Alberta woman has been sentenced for a fatal collision that claimed the life of a 26-year-old Okotoks man in 2023.
-
2 people charged after multiple break-and-enters of Nanton businesses
A Nanton resident and a Claresholm resident have been charged in relation to multiple break-and-enters that took place in southeast Nanton.
Vancouver
-
B.C. Mounties say seized key fob kit could be used to steal 'virtually any vehicle'
A 48-year-old man was arrested Thursday after Mounties in Kelowna, B.C., recovered a stolen car containing illicit drugs and a car key programming kit that investigators say could be used to steal "virtually any vehicle that uses a key fob."
-
4 arrested after storage container theft: Kamloops RCMP
Mounties in Kamloops, B.C., say they foiled a break-and-enter in progress in the early hours of Thursday morning.
-
'Incalculably small' amount of diesel visible at site of 8,000-litre B.C. spill
Aerial surveillance over an area where thousands of litres of diesel was spilled last month off Vancouver Island shows most of the fuel is no longer visible on the water.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. Mounties say seized key fob kit could be used to steal 'virtually any vehicle'
A 48-year-old man was arrested Thursday after Mounties in Kelowna, B.C., recovered a stolen car containing illicit drugs and a car key programming kit that investigators say could be used to steal "virtually any vehicle that uses a key fob."
-
'Incalculably small' amount of diesel visible at site of 8,000-litre B.C. spill
Aerial surveillance over an area where thousands of litres of diesel was spilled last month off Vancouver Island shows most of the fuel is no longer visible on the water.
-
Liberal leadership: Joly says she's focused on Trump and won't run
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will not run for Liberal leadership. Up to now, Joly was widely considered a potential successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently announced he would resign as leader of the Liberal party.
Saskatoon
-
Body of missing Sask. man ,68, found by police
A 68-year-old man from Rosthern who was reported missing a month ago was found dead on Friday.
-
Saskatoon man killed in collision with semi
A 35-year-old man from Saskatoon is dead after RCMP say the car he was driving collided with a semi on Highway 14 Thursday afternoon.
-
'They are hopeless': Saskatoon family desperate to bring sisters to Canada
Two Saskatoon women are desperately trying to get their loved ones out of Afghanistan, as the Taliban continues to oppress women.
Regina
-
Sask. RCMP arrest Yorkton man, seize hundreds of grams of cocaine, fentanyl and meth
Saskatchewan RCMP say a 20-year-old Yorkton man is facing drug related charges after officers executed a search warrant of a home in the city on Wednesday.
-
Crews called to house fire on Retallack Street
Regina Fire says no one was injured in a house fire late Thursday night.
-
Saskatchewan newspaper predating province's formation ceases publication
Older than the province of Saskatchewan itself, the Estevan Mercury has now ceased publication after more than a century of operation.
Toronto
-
Canada-wide warrant issued for Brampton teen allegedly linked to armed Vaughan home invasion
York police say a Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued for an 'armed and dangerous' Brampton teenager, who allegedly took part in a Vaughan home invasion that ended in a shooting.
-
Woman charged in connection with sister's murder in Smithville, Ont.
A woman has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder in connection with her sister’s death, who was found dead in their shared home in Smithville, Ont. last April, police say.
-
Man dies after falling through ice in Lake Ontario: police
A man in his 70s has died after falling through the ice in Lake Ontario by the Toronto Islands, police say.
Montreal
-
27 years after Quebec ice storm, Montrealers find themselves in L.A. wildfire's smoke
Montrealers, accustomed to ice storms, snow and cold, found themselves in Los Angeles this week as major wildfires raged throughout the region.
-
How to improve climate predictions? McGill researchers turn to 19th century letters
A team led by McGill University researchers came up with a method they hope could improve climate models over Africa by combining them with 19th century missionary records, refashioning dubious documents in a bid to better inform projections of global warming's impact.
-
NEW
NEW Federal Liberals to pick new leader on March 9 as rules for leadership race are defined
The Liberal Party of Canada have announced leadership race rules late Thursday, including a significant increase in entrance fees and a requirement for voters to be Canadian citizens.
Atlantic
-
N.B. RCMP seek two men suspected in Lutes Mountain home invasion
Police are looking for two men suspected in a home invasion in Lutes Mountain, N.B., last week. Police say two people broke into the home and restrained a man and woman who were inside.
-
Big jump in gas prices across the Maritimes overnight
There was a big jump in the price of gas in all three Maritime provinces overnight.
-
New Brunswick nurse wins 'Set for Life' lottery on Friday the 13th
A New Brunswick nurse is ‘set for life’ after winning a $675,000 lottery prize last month.
Winnipeg
-
Another big tax hike is potentially coming for Brandon residents
Brandon homeowners are facing the possibility of a double-digit tax increase in 2025.
-
Canadian 'Super Scooper' plane grounded after hitting civilian drone over Los Angeles wildfires
A Canadian 'Super Scooper' aircraft fighting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles had to be grounded after it hit a drone flying in restricted airspace over the devastating blaze on Thursday, the local fire department said.
-
Winnipeg man charged with sexually assaulting children at daycare: police
Police have charged a man with sexually assaulting two children at an unlicensed daycare in Winnipeg.
Ottawa
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Algonquin College closing Perth, Ont. campus as it deals with 'challenging fiscal times'
Algonquin College plans to close its campus in Perth, Ont. next year, as it deals with a multi-million deficit due to the new federal cap on international students and provincial funding shortfalls.
-
'Mom did most of the work': Ottawa police, paramedics help deliver baby boy in Centretown
A healthy baby boy was born Friday morning in Centretown with some help from Ottawa police and paramedics.
-
Ottawa Food Bank cutting food by 20-50 per cent to its agencies in 2025
The Ottawa Food Bank is cutting food donations to 98 food programs across the city by up to 50 per cent this year, as it deals with rising costs for food and an "all-time high" demand for food from the public.
Northern Ontario
-
Ontario homeowners left with expensive contracts after company appears to go out of business
Several homeowners in Ontario signed contracts with Provincial Smart Home Services promising rebates for their energy efficient upgrades, but now won't receive them as the company appears to have gone out of business.
-
Northern Ont. man fined $1,001 for dumping a bag of garbage
A Cochrane, Ont., man was fined $1,001 for dumping a single bag of garbage on public land.
-
Alta. man charged and released twice in one night for violence at northern Ont. hotel
Last weekend, an Alberta man was arrested and released for intimate partner violence at a northern Ontario hotel just hours after being charged and released for assaulting a teen with a weapon at the same location.
Barrie
-
Brentwood Road house trailer goes up in flames
A house trailer at the 62 Brentwood Road trailer park was destroyed by fire.
-
Shift in bridge closes historical Bracebridge Silver Bridge indefinitely
Bracebridge's historical Silver Bridge will be closed for the foreseeable future.
-
Fatal cyclist crash in Thornbury
A serious collision between a vehicle and cyclist was investigated in Thornbury.
Kitchener
-
Dog dies, pedestrian injured after Waterloo crash: WRPS
A pedestrian and dog were hit by a vehicle in Waterloo Friday morning.
-
Police investigating Kitchener shooting into residence
Waterloo Regional Police Service is investigating after suspected bullet holes were found on a Kitchener residence Thursday afternoon.
-
Elderly Guelph man found using locating technology
A missing Guelph man in his 90s was found quickly Wednesday morning using signal locating technology.
London
-
Commissioners Road closed due to structure fire
The London Fire Department is on scene of an active structure fire at Commissioners Road and Highland Heights.
-
University Drive at Western University closed Tuesday
University Drive at Western University will be closed on Tuesday.
-
More snow coming Friday with cold temperatures expected
A low-pressure system is moving through a cold front, bringing with it some snow Friday afternoon.
Windsor
-
Suspects sought in Puce break-in
Essex County OPP are searching for two suspects in connection to a theft from a business in Puce.
-
Honda Civic, Ford Ranger and Volkswagen ID win North American vehicle awards
The Honda Civic hybrid won the 2025 North American Car of the Year award, while the Ford Ranger took the crown for the truck honors, and Volkswagen ID. Buzz won the utility award.
-
Liberal leadership: Joly says she's focused on Trump and won't run
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will not run for Liberal leadership. Up to now, Joly was widely considered a potential successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently announced he would resign as leader of the Liberal party.
