Forty--four Albertans have now succumbed to COVID-19 according to this afternoon's update from Alberta Health Services.

With 82 new cases reported, a total of 1,651 Albertans have been inflicted by the virus. Nearly half, or 823, have now recovered.

Four Albertans have died since the last report, bringing the total deaths in the province to 44.

Two of the latest deaths were residents of the McKenzie Towne continuing care facility in Calgary zone, bringing the total number of deaths at this facility to 20. Two were residents at Manoir du Lac in North zone, bringing the total number of deaths at this facility to four.

With these recent deaths, a total of 30 people have died in the Calgary zone. Seven people have died in the Edmonton zone, six people have died in the north zone, and one person has died in the central zone.

The Calgary zone continues to account for 63 per cent of the confirmed cases. In the Cochrane-Springbank area, there are 13 confirmed cases and no deaths. Nine of these people have recovered so far.

Provincewide, 44 people have been hospitalized, 14 of which have been admitted to intensive care.

There have been 74,709 people tested for COVID-19 and a total of 77,316 tests performed by the lab. There were 2,038 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

Effective Apr. 15, continuing care workers will be required to wear masks at all times when providing direct patient care or working in patient care areas.

Starting Apr. 16, workers in long-term care and designated supportive living sites will only be allowed to work at one location. This requirement must be fully implemented no later than Apr. 23.