Alberta reports three cases of new COVID subvariant, more hospitalizations, deaths

EDMONTON – Alberta Health says it has detected three cases of the BA. 2 variant and reported its second-highest rate of hospitalizations due to COVID-19.

The province says there were 1,418 hospitalizations Wednesday, a day after it broke its record with 1,443.

There were 1,309 people with the disease in non-intensive care and 109 patients in ICUs across the province.

The province also recorded 22 additional deaths, bringing the total to 3,505 since the pandemic began.

Alberta Health did not say when the three Omicron subvariant cases were detected.

Federal health officials say so far, 51 such cases have been detected throughout Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 26, 2022.