Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health had some words to say today (January 13) during the provincial COVID-19 update to businesses that were opening their doors in spite of provincial restrictions that say they must stay closed.  

Dr. Deena Hinshaw said when cases of the virus rise it's because we are infecting each other.  When they fall it's because we are protecting each other. "Business owners who choose to reopen despite our current restrictions are increasing the number of close contacts that are happening in their community, possibly making it harder for other business owners if that means restrictions need to stay in place for longer."

Hinshaw said, on the other hand, business owners who prepare for a safe future reopening but follow the measures currently in place are helping their communities, protecting our health care system, and helping Alberta get to a low enough level of community transmissions so reopening can happen faster.  

Hinshaw said communities that support those businesses through this difficult time are making it easier for them to do the right thing.  

Hinshaw reported 875 new cases of the virus from 15,880 tests making the positivity rate one of the lowest in recent memory at 5.3 percent.  The total number of active cases dropped under 13,000 today to 12,838. 

820 people are hospitalized, one more than the day before, and 137 patients are in ICU, five more than on Tuesday.  

23 more Albertans passed away from the virus ranging in age from 48 to 96.  The Alberta death toll is now 1,368.

Alberta has administered 58,144 doses of the Moderna and PfizerBioNTech vaccines as of yesterday.  That's 1,314.9 doses per 100,000 population.  The province has received one shipment of vaccine already this week and is expecting to receive another in the coming days.  

The numbers for Airdrie remained virtually unchanged today with the exception that 10 more people have now recovered bringing that number to 1,483.  160 residents still have the virus and 13 people have passed away with both figures unchanged from yesterday.

The number of active cases in Rocky View County increased by four to 86 today with 667 recovered.  Four people from the county have died from COVID-19.  

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com