Coronavirus: Alberta asking anyone entering province from UK in last 14 days to get tested | FULL

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw is asking anyone who entered the province from the United Kingdom in the last 14 days to be tested for COVID-19 immediately. This comes after a new variant of the novel coronavirus was detected in the U.K. that is thought to spread more rapidly.

Canada has already announced they will stop incoming flights for 72 hours to prevent the spread of the new strain. The policy will come into effect at 12:01am Monday for all commercial and private passenger flights.

Hinshaw also said the province continues to show “positive signs” while announcing 1,240 additional cases of COVID-19 on Monday, while the province also recorded nine more deaths associated to the disease. The province administered over 18,300 tests leading to a provincial positivity rate of 6.8%.

There are now 795 people in hospital with COVID-19, with 151 in intensive care. Hinshaw said as Christmas approaches it is even more important to continue following the rules.

"This week is another test for our province. This is usually a time for many to relax and celebrate, but we must not relax our guard or gather with friends or family outside our households."

Hinshaw said the R-value for the last seven days is now 0.92 in Alberta. Edmonton zone has an R-value of 0.89 and the R-value is 0.97 in Calgary zone.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/7535579/alberta-coronavirus-update-dec-21/

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