Fort McMurray is seeing a slight increase in active COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced on Tuesday 1,341 new cases across the province.

This raises the provincial total to 83,327 with 20,649 currently active. There are also 742 Albertans in the hospital for the virus, 137 of which are in ICUs.

Locally, Fort McMurray added 20 new cases and 17 additional recoveries which raises the active total to 224.

The rural areas added three more cases in the past 24 hours which puts the total of active cases at eight.

In total, 926 individuals across the RMWB – 819 in Fort McMurray and 107 in the rural areas – have recovered.

They are among the 61,934 who’ve recovered across the province. This represents over 74 per cent of reported cases.

There were also 11 new deaths from COVID-19 in Alberta over the past day – raising the total to 744.

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

Self-Isolation Support

Premier Jason Kenney also announced on Tuesday there are currently 16 hotels for Albertans to stay if they can’t safely self-isolate at home.

This currently includes nine in Edmonton, six in Calgary, and one in Peace River with plans underway to set up spaces in Fort McMurray and Red Deer.

Those who self-isolate at these hotels will be fully accommodated by the province and will receive a $625 payment, the same as for those impacted by natural disasters, after their stay is over.

Food and transportation to the spaces are also fully covered.

Individuals must have been told by Alberta Health Services to quarantine to access this service.