Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Vol. 45, No. 2
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Omicron Food Bank stays stocked thanks to generosity ‘everywhere’ says health officer Patricia Harcourt Editor
The chief provincial officer of health has warned that the highly infectious Omicron variant is “everywhere” and people need to take precautions to prevent getting infected. This appears to be playing out locally as cases of COVID-19 have risen to 15 from just five last week in the eastern part of Beaver County - Viking (Beaver County East - and 36 (up from 26) in the western end - Tofield (Beaver County West). Omicron is now being blamed for rapid spread of the disease in the province as 40 per cent of people are testing positive. But the numbers only tell a part of the story, as health officials believe many others are infected who haven’t been tested. Since not everyone can be counted as in previous waves of the pandemic, said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, announced changes to testing eligibility on Monday. It will no longer be standard for people feeling symptoms of infection to get a PCR test. People are being urged to stay home if they feel unwell but a test is no longer indicated to confirm their medical status. With positivity rates at 40 per cent for those who have been tested, Hinshaw said testing eligibility will now focus on high risk individuals and settings. This includes people with clinical risk factors for severe outcomes and those who live and work in high-risk settings. “Like other provinces, Alberta’s testing resources have increasingly become stretched, and with the rising number of COVID cases due to Omicron, we now need to focus this testing capacity strategically to those most at risk of serious illness from COVID,” said Hinshaw. She reported six new deaths that have occurred since January 6, noting the increases in Omicron See COVID UPDATE P7
Pictured above: The Viking and Holden Area Food Bank have packed their meat freezer thanks to many generous donations from around the county. The Food Bank thanks all of those who keep them in mind year round, as your donations help in big ways. Pictured right: Two volunteers at the Viking and Holden Area Food Bank stand behind a donation from a generous member of the community to help stock the shelves for the holiday season. The Food Bank is always grateful for donations, big or small, of food or money to help those in need.