Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided the latest numbers on COID-19 in the province today (January 14) and while doing that she also said that language describing case numbers in schools was being updated based on feedback Alberta has received from education partners.  

"Over the fall, we received feedback from parents, education stakeholders, and others that they had found the categories of alert, outbreak, and watch confusing," explained Hinshaw.  "Clear communication is key, especially when it comes to matters of public health, so we have listened to this feedback and updated our school outbreak terminology to make it clearer and easier to understand."

Currently, schools with COVID-19 cases are described as either being on alert, outbreak, or watch with each category reflecting a certain number of cases.  Starting Monday, January 18th, the term "watch" which many found confusing will no longer be used.   Schools with one to four cases will be described as on alert and those with five or more cases will be on outbreak.

Schools with two or more cases will continue to be reported and reflected on the COVID-19 school map. Additional guidance materials for learning during COVID-19 can be found at alberta.ca/returntoschool.

Public health support provided to students, staff, and families remains unchanged. Parents will continue to be notified when there is a single case in their child’s school and further supports will be initiated when there are two or more cases in a school.

During today's update on the virus, Hinshaw reported 967 new cases from 16,219 lab-tests making for a positivity rate of 5.8 percent.  That brings the number of active cases to 12,434, a drop of more than 400 from yesterday.

806 Albertans are hospitalized, a decrease of 14 from yesterday while 136 are in ICU, one fewer than the previous day.  Hinshaw sadly reported an additional 21 Albertans have died from the virus bringing the total to 1,389.

The number of active cases in Airdrie rose by two to 162 today with recoveries up by 13 to 1,496.  The number of deaths didn't change for another day and remains at 13.

In Rocky View County the active cases fell by seven to 79 with recoveries rising by 14 to 681.  The number of county residents who have died remains at four.  

Hinshaw said about 8,500 more Albertans received immunization for the virus yesterday making nearly 67,000 Albertans that have been given the vaccines.