Fiveasec: Alberta passes five million vaccine dose milestone as 130 new cases of COVID-19 reported since Friday

Alberta has administered more than five million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

As of end-of-day Sunday, 5,056,062 total doses have been administered, meaning 74.8 per cent of Albertans aged 12 and older have at least one dose while 59.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Of Alberta’s total population, 63.6 per cent have at least one dose while 50.8 per cent have received two doses.

In a news release Monday, Premier Jason Kenney said every dose of vaccine increases Albertans’ protection against COVID-19.

“These vaccines are safe and save lives. I urge every Albertan to get both their doses. It will not only protect you and your family, but help our province stay open for good,” he said.

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said in the release vaccines have proven to be the single most effective way to protect individuals and communities from the virus.

“While COVID-19 cases are declining right now, this virus remains a serious public health concern. Every dose truly does make a difference in reducing infection and spread of COVID-19,” she said.

Alberta reported a total of 130 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend. On Friday, 49 new cases were recorded, 43 on Saturday and 38 on Sunday.

Active cases across the province increased by 26, for a total of 605. In the Edmonton Zone, which includes the city of Edmonton and surrounding municipalities, there are 129 active cases, an increase of eight.

All of the new active cases in the Edmonton Zone occurred within the city of Edmonton, which once again has more than 100 active cases, with 102.

There are 100 people hospitalized with COVID-19, a decrease of 10. Of those, 27 are in intensive care units, a decrease of one.

Two more deaths have raised the provincial death toll to 2,316.