1 more death from COVID-19 in Calgary Zone, 69 new cases of the illness in Alberta

Kenney helping out other provinces Jason Kenney says Alberta's equipment is now being donated to other provinces. Timm Bruch reports.

Edmonton — The premier of Alberta announced there have been 69 more confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the province's total to 1,569.

Jason Kenney released the details during a media availability in Edmonton Saturday afternoon.

Another patient, in the Calgary Zone, has died from complications connected to COVID-19. Kenney confirmed the patient was a resident at the McKenzie Towne Continuing Care facility, bringing the total deaths of residents there to 18.

"We express our condolences to the family not just to that person, but to all 40 who have lost their lives over the course of three weeks in Alberta from this pandemic," Kenney said.

There are 83 confirmed cases of coronavirus at that long-term care facility which is located in southeast Calgary.

He added 744 people have recovered from the illness while 47 people, including 13 in the ICU, remain in hospital.

The Calgary Zone continues to lead the province in numbers of cases with 976 while the Edmonton Zone only has 388 confirmed cases of the illness.

Twenty-eight people have died of COVID-19 in the Calgary Zone alone, with 40 total deaths in the entire province.

Alberta helping out with equipment shortages

Kenney also added Alberta has enough equipment to help fight the pandemic and is offering its surplus to other Canadian provinces who are struggling with it.

As a result, hundreds of thousands of N95 masks, millions of pairs of gloves along with goggles and ventilators will be sent to Ontario, Quebec and B.C. hospitals.

"Albertans should be very proud that we are able to extend a helping hand to our Canadian brothers and sisters in this time of need. It is because of Albertans’ efforts to isolate and the incredible job being done by frontline health-care workers that we are in a position to support others during this crisis," said Kenney. "We want all of our country to know that in both good times and bad, Alberta is there for Canada."

Alberta will begin shipping the items to the other provinces starting next week.

COVID-19 deaths exceed annual flu deaths

Following the eight additional reported deaths from COVID-19 over the past two days, more people have died from complications of that illness than from influenza this season.

Alberta Health Services says 38 people died from influenza in hospital during the 2019/20 season. There were 8,448 confirmed cases of influenza A and B.