Fort McMurray’s active total of COVID-19 cases is continuing to rise.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced on Wednesday 1,265 new cases across Alberta.

This raises the provincial total to 50,801 with 13,719 currently active.

Thirty-four of the new cases were in Fort McMurray which also saw 14 additional recoveries. This puts the active total at 178.

The rural areas didn’t add any new cases while one previously reported active case on the provincial map has been removed, lowering the total to 26.

In total, 553 individuals across the RMWB – 480 in Fort McMurray and 73 in the rural areas – have recovered.

They are among the 36,582 who’ve recovered across the province. This represents just over 72 per cent of reported cases.

There were also eight new deaths from COVID-19 in Alberta over the past day – raising the total to 500.

To date, two individuals in Fort McMurray have died as a result of the virus.

School Update

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Fort McMurray Islamic/Greely Road school site.

Four individuals with ties to the Islamic school have tested positive for the virus.

Fort McMurray Public School Division Superintendent Jennifer Turner says none of the cases are believed to have been contracted through school transmission.

Alberta Health Services has contacted everyone who needs to self-isolate and get tested.

Both schools are remaining open at this time.