Nine more cases of COVID-19 are being discovered in Fort McMurray.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced on Thursday 158 new cases across the province. This raises the provincial total to 17,190 with 1,462 currently active.

The community also saw six more recoveries which puts the active total at 48.

The rural areas didn’t see any new changes, keeping the total of active cases at four.

In total, 255 individuals across the RMWB – 194 in Fort McMurray and 61 in the rural areas – have recovered.

They are among the 15,467 across the province. This represents nearly 90 per cent of reported cases.

Meanwhile, there was one new death from COVID-19 in Alberta over the past 24 hours – raising the total to 261.

One of the deaths has been in Fort McMurray.

New COVID-19 Cases in Schools

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Sister Mary Phillips School.

The school now has two active cases, however, neither was contracted at school.

Holy Trinity, which currently has an outbreak, now has three active cases, while St. Martha and Elsie Yanik also added new cases.

This is the second positive case from Elsie Yanik, however, an outbreak will be declared at schools when there are at least two positive cases within a 14 day period.

All COVID-19 cases in Fort McMurray schools have been from community transmission.

Each school will remain open.

Custodians have conducted enhanced cleaning protocols, focusing on areas where the individuals were present, along with high-touch areas and surfaces throughout the schools.

Alberta Health Services will be in contact with all staff and students who need to self-isolate.

Meanwhile, those who show any symptoms are asked to stay home, self-isolate, and get tested for the virus.

Everyone should continue to fill out the Alberta Health Screening Questionnaire each day before heading off to school.