South Country Village now has six positive COVID-19 cases, according to Alberta Health Services. -- NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
The first COVID-19 death in Medicine Hat was last week, a resident of South Country Village – a seniors residence near the airport, Alberta Health has confirmed.
By Friday the number of positive COVID-19 cases at this seniors facility was four including the death. On Monday afternoon Alberta Health said the number had climbed to six including the death.
The News requested an interview with management at South Country Village on Monday but there was so response to that request before the News’ deadline.
Remarkably seniors residences in Medicine Hat had been able to avoid any positive cases of COVID-19 for most of the lock down period. More recently efforts have been made, in general, to allow loved ones of residents an opportunity to resume visits. It is unclear what the possible circumstances were for transmission at South Country Village.
According to the Alberta Health’s website the date the death was first reported was June 26.
In the south zone, which includes Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Brooks, there were eight deaths reported in April and two in May and now one in June.
Of the 11 deaths for the whole of the south zone, six were individuals more than 80 years of age, four were between the ages of 70 and 79 and one was between the ages of 40 and 49. Three of the 11 people who died were females.
Alberta Health does not provide any details of specific cases due to privacy concerns.
In general 74.7 per cent of deaths attributed to COVID-19 have been related to people who had three or more other health issues, 14.3 per cent had two other health conditions, 7.1 per cent had one other health issue and only 3.9 per cent had not other he
