Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided and live update today, just ahead of the holidays.

Due to the rapidly rising cases due to Omicron, the testing process will be changed to decrease the pressure on laboratories. She said, “ With cases growing exponentially, we must also begin to conserve capacity.”

AHS is asking anyone with an appointment for a PCR test after testing positive with a rapid test to cancel the appointment in order to relieve the stress and free space for high-risk residents. 

Those who should access PCR tests are those working in high-priority settings like health care and continuing care facilities.

AHS is recommending that anyone who is symptomatic and has access to a rapid test isolate and use the result of that test and not book an appointment for a PCR test.

If your rapid test is positive and you have symptoms, you should notify close contacts and isolate.

She said that the number reporting will be paused online between Dec 24 to 28 with reporting resuming on December 29.

Dr. Hinshaw will provide live updates on December 28 and 30.

The province recorded 1,625 new cases with a positivity rate of 13.6 per cent. 

Fortunately, no additional deaths were reported in the past 24 hours. Likewise, hospitalizations dropped to 318, and ICU admissions fell to 64.

Cochrane is reporting 78 active cases while Rocky View County is reporting 123. 

Dr. Hinshaw also reported that since the third shot booster eligibility was expanded, 196,391 booster shots have been booked in the province.