Alberta COVID-19 numbers remain low with 15 new cases counted Thursday

Alberta Health Services employees speak with a drivers at a drive-thru testing facility in Calgary, Alta., Friday, March 27, 2020, amid a worldwide COVID-19 flu pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh​

EDMONTON — Alberta registered 15 more cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.

The new cases were found amongst 4,226 tests in the 24 hours since Wednesday afternoon, according to government data.

One more Albertan also died from the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths to 146.

On Thursday, 48 people remained in hospital, including six in ICUs. Those numbers were unchanged from the previous two days.

The largest number of active cases continues to be Calgary, with 232 people sick with the virus. Edmonton, Grande Prairie and Brooks count 46, 12 and 3 active cases, respectively.

In total, Alberta has seen 7,091 cases and 6,611 recoveries.

While Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw did not deliver the update publicly Thursday, she said earlier in the week she was encouraged by the low number of cases since the province launched its first stage of reopening.

READ MORE: Alberta confirms 19 cases of COVID-19, Stage 2 could begin early

Premier Jason Kenney also said if the numbers stayed low, Stage 2 would begin earlier than June 19, as was previously planned.