There are no new cases of COVID-19 popping up in the rural areas.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced on Thursday 114 new cases across the province.

This raises the provincial total to 9,975 with 1,293 currently active.

Hinshaw says she’s very concerned with the rise in cases as the number has doubled with ICU visits having tripled over the past couple of weeks.

Along with no new local cases, there were no additional recoveries. This keeps the active total at four with all cases outside of Fort McMurray.

Across the RMWB, 96 individuals – 56 in Fort McMurray and 40 in the rural areas – have recovered from the virus.

They are among the 8,506 who’ve recovered across the province. This represents just over 85 per cent of reported cases.

Meanwhile, two more people have died from COVID-19 in the province – raising the death toll to 176.

None of the deaths have been in the RMWB.