Respiratory Virus Season Peaks, Then Trends Downward
Alberta's respiratory virus patients have decreased to 675, down from a peak of 1,000 in late December. Emergency inpatients have also dropped by 100 week-over-week, from a peak in the mid-500s. The province reports early signs that influenza A has peaked and is declining in Alberta after a challenging December.
In a January 14 update, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Matt Jones shared these updates. He mentioned that major hospitals, particularly in Calgary and Edmonton, have faced significant pressure this winter. To address this, hospitals across the province are implementing measures to maintain emergency department capacity and improve patient flow.
These measures include expediting discharges and transfers when appropriate, diverting patients to recovery and social support services upfront, limiting non-essential inbound transfers, dedicating 336 beds specifically for the respiratory virus season, and transitioning patients requiring alternate levels of care to more suitable settings to free up hospital beds. Additionally, designated surge capacity has been established to manage increased demand.
According to data from the respiratory virus dashboard, as of January 10, 39 people were in intensive care with influenza, and four had RSV. Between January 4 and January 10, eight people died from the flu, one from COVID, and one from RSV.
Seventy-five sites in the North Zone, including 19 schools and 12 childcare facilities, have been declared outbreak status during the 2025/26 season. The government no longer publicly shares lists of facilities under outbreak status.
David Diamond, the interim CEO of Acute Care Alberta, stated that overall, the inpatient capacity at the province's 16 major urban hospitals is operating at 102% capacity. This includes temporary and surge spaces to meet current demands.
Diamond emphasized that the optimal hospital utilization is between 85% and 90% of capacity. He explained that when hospitals reach 100% capacity, challenges with ER backlogs and other issues arise.
According to Diamond, the challenges in emergency departments are more related to the availability of medicine beds for patient transfers. If a patient in the emergency department requires a medicine bed but none is available, they must remain in the emergency department, potentially causing delays for others.
Erin O'Neill, the interim CEO of Alberta Health Services, mentioned that part of load levelling involves redirecting ambulances with less acute patients to other facilities to preserve capacity at major urban hospitals.
When asked about the delay in patient transfers to ensure hospital capacity for the respiratory virus season, Jones explained that planning began months in advance. Assisted Living Alberta has reduced ALC patients by about 20% across the system, with some hospitals achieving over 35%.
Jones highlighted that months of active planning and coordination preceded the respiratory virus season, which is why mass cancellations of surgeries, for example, have not occurred. He also stated that he doesn't need to declare a state of emergency to address the healthcare system's challenges.
Jones assured that the necessary tools are available to respond to respiratory virus and hospital pressures. If additional powers are required to manage a situation, they would be escalated accordingly.
