Today's #COVID19AB press conference is scheduled to begin right away.

I will be livetweeting the update here. You can also watch live at the link below.

#yyc #yeg https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/live-at-430-p-m-dr-hinshaw-to-update-covid-19-situation

NEW: Alberta has surpassed 800 #COVID19AB deaths only five days after reaching 700 deaths.

The province reported 25 new deaths from the virus today, the second-highest total ever. There have been 132 COVID-19 deaths reported in Alberta in the past seven days alone.

#ableg

Today’s 25 reported #COVID19AB deaths include a woman from the AHS Calgary zone in her 20s who died of the virus Dec. 12. Alberta Health says she had no known comorbidities.

It’s the third COVID-19 death of a person in their 20s in Alberta.

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Here are details for all of today’s 25 #COVID19AB deaths.

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Here are today's #COVID19AB stats:

-1,413 new cases (total now 87,581)
-25 new deaths (total now 815)
-759 currently in hospital, 141 in ICU (yesterday: 763 in hospital, 138 in ICU)
-~19,500 tests conducted (~7.4% positive)

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"We are starting to see some early positive signs in our province," Hinshaw said.

Adds there are 19,607 active cases in the province, the lowest since two weeks ago. Says our positivity rate is also declinining.

#COVID19AB #yyc #yeg

"Let me be clear: our fight is far from over," Hinshaw said. Expects admissions to hospitals and ICUs to continue to increase over upcoming days, as these are indicators that lag behind cases.

#COVID19AB #yyc #yeg. .

The early positive indicators could be erased within days if Albertans don't continue to do their part, Hinshaw said.

Asks for continued vigilance this weekend, including by not crowding into stores and malls.

#COVID19AB #yyc #yeg

Date of 100th #COVID19AB death: April 30
Date of 200th death: July 31
Date of 300th death: Oct. 22
Date of 400th death: Nov. 11
Date of 500th death: Nov. 23
Date of 600th death: Dec. 6
Date of 700th death: Dec. 13
Date of 800th death: Dec. 18

#ableg #abpoli

. @JWongGlobalNews asks whether most recent restrictions are behind positive trends.

Hinshaw said it's possible measures last Tuesday (province-wide masking mandate and ban on socializations) could be a factor.

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The full impact of the most recent restrictions will not be seen for another few weeks, Hinshaw said, but early returns will be seen in the middle of next week.

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. @CBCRaffy asks about positive COVID-19 cases in WJC bubble and mixed messaging of a hockey tournament amid restrictions.

Hinshaw said she recognizes many in Alberta would love to play sports. Said tournament won't put Albertans at risk.

#COVID19AB #yyc

. @ByJamesKeller asks about opioid numbers and Kenney's claim CERB is driving deaths.

Hinshaw said it's hard to know what is driving increase. Said during spring restrictions, barriers to services was thought to be a factor.

#COVID19AB

I ask about risk to younger Albertans, as the death of a woman in her 20s was reported today.

Hinshaw said it's a tragic reminder people can of any age can lose their lives to COVID-19. Asks all Albertans to follow measures to protect themselves and others.

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. @DylanShort_ asks about ban on indoor social gatherings, whether she believes people will follow during holidays.

Hinshaw said it's tough to know compliance levels. Says restriction will be tough for but says known these settings are known to drive spread.

#COVID19AB #yyc #yeg

If Christmas were to serve as an accelerating factor with our current case load, we could easily push more than 2,000 daily cases after the holidays, Hinshaw said.

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The 1,413 cases since yesterday by AHS zone:

Edmonton zone: 650
Calgary zone: 546
Central zone: 132
North zone: 74
South zone: 29

These numbers sum to 1,431 because 18 cases previously reported as 'unknown' has been reclassified.

#COVID19AB #yyc #yeg

Active cases by zone (change from yesterday):

Edmonton zone: 9,376 (-149)
Calgary zone: 6,971 (-72)
Central zone: 1,473 (+11)
North zone: 1,201 (-13)
South zone: 511 (-30)
Unknown zone: 75 (-5)

#COVID19AB #yyc #yeg

Here's how the 759 in hospital/141 in ICU break down regionally.

#yeg zone: 415 in hospital/83 in ICU
#yyc zone: 221 in hospital/42 in ICU
Central zone: 75 in hospital/5 in ICU
North zone: 33 in hospital/7 in ICU
South zone: 15 in hospital/4 in ICU

#COVID19AB

This tweet was incorrect. The death announced today marks the fourth Albertan in their 20s to die of COVID-19. Sorry for the mistake.

#COVIDAB19 #yyc #yeg https://twitter.com/jasonfherring/status/1340077524055851008