Alberta's official opposition is calling on the United Conservative government to step up the province's vaccination efforts amid rising new cases of COVID-19..

That spike continued today (August 20) as 749 new cases of the virus were reported in Alberta.  We've now reached 6,709 active cases, a jump of 342 from yesterday. 

Hospitalizations also increased by a fairly large amount today, going from 198 in hospital yesterday to 221 today.  After falling slightly yesterday, ICU patients rose again by five to 48. 

Of those currently in hospital, 179 people or 81.0 percent haven't been vaccinated at all, 11 or 4.98 percent are partially vaccinated and 31 people or 14.03 percent are fully immunized.  

The province administered just 7,661 doses of vaccine over the past day.  

Another Albertan died from COVID-19.  

The provincial positivity rate, from 9,005 tests, was 8.3 percent.  

Active cases declined slightly in both Airdrie and Rocky View County, falling by two cases in each location with now 94 in Airdrie and 46 in the county.  

NDP Health Critic David Shepherd says the province should send mobile vaccination clinics to areas where Albertans tend to gather.  Places like supermarkets, malls, parks and festival grounds.

Shepherd also says Jason Kenney's government should release internal modelling that it says supported its decision to eliminate almost all remaining public health measures.

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