Alberta reported 57 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday during Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s first live health update in more than a week.
The new case results came back on roughly 5,000 tests for a 1.4 per cent positivity rate.
Hinshaw confirmed there were also 38 new variant cases detected in the province over the past 24 hours.
More than 3.85 million doses of COVID vaccines have been administered and 70.8 per cent of eligible Albertans have received at least one dose. As of Tuesday, 30.4 per cent of eligible Albertans are considered fully immunized with two doses.
For Albertans wondering about getting the same brand of mRNA shot, Hinshaw reiterated statements from the national vaccine advisory board that Pfizer and Moderna are interchangeable.
“It does not matter which brand you get for your second dose, they are both safe and effective and it is perfectly ok to get a second dose of each.”
Over the last six months, Alberta vaccine data shows Moderna is 93 per cent protective against COVID-19 after a second dose. Pfizer is close behind at 90 per cent protection with the double shots.
Hinshaw stated that the province will not be updating case counts or other COVID-19 data over the weekend, adding next Tuesday will be her last regular update.
“After that, we will shift to providing live updates when needed. These availabilities are intended to provide critical information, and the reality is we’re making great progress.”
She added all efforts being done by the province to ensure the health and safety of Albertans will continue.
As the province heads into Stage 3 of reopening on July 1, Hinshaw says Albertans will face a new challenge, learning to live with COVID as restrictions ease.
“We need to learn how to live with this virus without these rules. This means entering a time with fewer mandatory barriers on what we can do, while still being thoughtful about how we manage risks,” she said.
“As we find our way back into activities that are newly allowed, it is important to remember that precautions like avoiding crowded indoor areas or wearing a mask remain reasonable choices for those who have risk factors for a severe outcome or for those who haven’t yet gotten their second dose.”
