In this image from a scanning electron microscope, the new coronavirus is in orange.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Less than four per cent of recorded COVID-19 deaths in Alberta were individuals without any other contributing health condition or comorbidity.
According to data released on Alberta Health’s website, of the 161 COVID deaths, six had no comorbidity, 11 had one other health condition, 22 had two comorbidities and 122 had three.
Tom McMillan, assistant director of communications for Alberta Health, says that a COVID death is counted when a person is “both diagnosed with COVID-19 and COVID-19 is a contributing cause of death.”
“If there is any question, we count the case as a COVID-19 death and then have the death certificate and file reviewed,” said McMillan.
This accounts for the times when statistics have on occasion been changed.
“This is why we have occasionally removed announced deaths from the provincial total after they were previously announced,” he said. “In all the reported deaths, COVID-19 is believed to have been a contributing factor.”
Of the four categories – no comorbidity, one condition, two conditions and three conditions – 72.7 per cent (of those positive for COVID) were classified as no comorbidity and “non severe.”
For those with more than three health conditions, only five per cent were non-severe, 36 per cent did not need treatment in ICU and 21.5 per cent did need to be admitted to ICU.
