An Alberta health expert is warning of a new wave of COVID-19 as data on the province’s wastewater suggests transmission is on the rise.
Data from the University of Calgary’s Provincial Wastewater Database shows an increase in cases in Calgary and Edmonton.
As of July 4, 568 people are in the hospital because of COVID-19. Of these, 21 are in the intensive care unit.
However, officials say the number could be higher because of restrictions on who can get a PCR test through AHS.
Read more: Alberta records 15 more COVID-19 deaths, but number of coronavirus patients in hospital falls
Xiaoli Pang, a molecular virologist and professor at the University of Alberta, said COVID-19 has never gone away and community transmission is still happening in Edmonton.
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However, there has not been a significant jump in cases in Alberta, although there has been an overall increase in community transmission.
“I can’t provide solid information that it will jump… We may have to look at the data in another two weeks,” Pang said.
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“There are some modeling predictions that the BA.5 sub-variant will cause the seventh wave, but it’s still too early to tell.”
The increase in COVID-19 cases comes after the province lifted all public health restrictions related to COVID-19 on June 13, which included mandatory masking on public transportation and mandatory isolation.
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At the time, Health Minister Jason Copping said Albertans had to live with the virus and the government would continue to monitor the province’s COVID-19 situation.
It also comes after the official start of the Calgary Stampede on Friday, raising concerns about an overcrowded event in the province. However, Premier Jason Kenney said there was no evidence that events like the Stampede would cause a new wave of COVID-19.
“Last summer we had no restrictions and there was no spike in cases after the stampede. “We didn’t see a significant spike in COVID-19 cases until the Delta wave in mid-August, so the two weren’t related,” Kenney said.
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“We are like the rest of the world, going on with our lives. There are only 20 people in the ICU and I don’t think people should be holed up at home living in fear.
But Pang said he worries about a spike in cases due to the increase in outdoor events and activities.
“What I’m really worried about is the beautiful weather and the increase in outdoor events and activities like the Stampede… But again, I can’t give any solid information that cases will increase,” Pang said.
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