EDMONTON — The Alberta government reported more than 1,100 new COVID-19 cases as hospitalizations exceeded 300.

Active cases rose to 9,066, the highest since late May, after the province added 1,112 infections on Wednesday.

There are 308 people in hospital with COVID-19, the most since June 10, and 64 in intensive care units, the highest since June 16.

Four more Albertans were reported to have died, bringing the province’s total number of COVID-19-related deaths to 2,360.

Unvaccinated Albertans remain the sizable majority of new COVID-19 cases – more than 70 per cent – and patients in hospital at nearly 80 per cent.

Among eligible Albertans, 77.6 per cent have now received a first dose of vaccine and 69.2 per cent have had two doses.

The next data update is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Matthew Black

EDMONTON — A new card the provincial government will release to help Albertans show proof of their vaccination status is not being considered as a vaccine passport.

The province is creating a “conveniently sized paper card” showing COVID-19 immunization records that Albertans will be able to access from the provincial health website: MyHealth Records.

The province aims to have the cards ready for download from the health record website by mid-September.

It will be up to Albertans themselves if they want to use the card, by either printing the card out or digitally saving the card on a mobile device.

“We understand how important it is for Albertans to have appropriate access to their immunization records right now,” said Chris Bourdeau, spokesperson for Alberta Health, in an email to CTV News.

“In the meantime, Albertan’s [sic] are encouraged to review the policies of locations and businesses prior to their visit to confirm what forms of vaccination proof will be accepted,” Bourdeau said. “It is recommended that Albertans use the paper immunizations record they received at the time of their immunization as a back-up.”

Bourdeau said that any Albertan who did not receive a paper copy of their record of immunization or needs another one can request a copy from wherever they received their vaccine doses.

When asked by CTV News if the new paper or digital card offered by Alberta Health will constitute a vaccine passport or card, Bourdeau said it would not.

“No,” the spokesperson said. “This is the same information on vaccination that Albertans have been able to access for any immunization since before COVID-19, simply being made available in a more convenient form.

“The decision on whether and how to use their own personal health information is up to each Albertan, subject to any requirements set by businesses or other organizations.”

Health Minister Tyler Shandro tweeted on Thursday that the province will not implement a vaccine passport and that anyone looking for proof of immunization to use documents they received from the place they received their vaccination or from Alberta MyHealth Records.

“Albertans have been asking more questions about proof of vaccination in recent days,” Shandro said.

“To be clear, the Alberta government has not and will not mandate a so-called ‘vaccine passport’ for domestic use,” he added.

The health minister said that other jurisdictions in Canada and countries around the world may have other requirements for showing proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination that the Government of Alberta “does not control.”

“Albertans already receive proof of vaccination when they get their shot, be it from AHS, pharmacies, or a doctor,” Shandro said. “But some Albertans, for whatever reason, are still hoping to receive a more formal document (ex. for international travel).”

According to Shandro, 800,000 Albertans already have accounts to access MyHealth Records, with thousands signing up to gain access to the website in the past few days.

“We are working on making MyHealth Records more accessible for Albertans,” the health minister said.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Dan Grummett

EDMONTON — When it comes to seasons, there are two types: meteorological seasons (which make sense weather-wise) and astronomical seasons (which are based on the sun).

Meteorologically, this will be our last weekend of summer because autumn will begin next Wednesday.

Astronomically, there will be four more “summer” weekends before the equinox.

But, answer me this — do you consider the first three weeks of June to be more or less “summer-y” than the first three weeks of September? I sure do.

However, astronomically, they’re not.

Meteorological seasons, on the other hand, line up better with the weather and start at the beginning of months. That makes June, July and August summer.

Following that, September-October-November are autumn and December-January-February are winter.

(Astronomically, winter wouldn’t actually start until just before Christmas!)

If meteorological seasons make so much more sense, how did we end up with the astronomical seasons?

Well…astronomical seasons are calculated using the earth’s orbit around the sun and the tilt of the earth’s axis.

That orbit and tilt mean the sun’s most direct rays are over different parts of the earth at different times of the year.

Astronomical summer and winter start at the solstices, when the sun’s most direct rays are at their further point north or south.

The autumn and spring equinoxes are the point when the sun’s most direct rays cross over the equator.

Those are important dates, for sure.  But, as I pointed out earlier…it makes more sense weather-wise to go with the meteorological seasons.

So…enjoy the last few days of meteorological summer! Autumn starts on Wednesday.

EDMONTON — Students attending the upcoming fall semester at the University of Alberta are being rewarded for receiving their COVID-19 vaccination by being entered to win a variety of prizes.

The Get Your Shot contest, announced by the University of Alberta Students’ Union, will allow undergraduate and graduate students over the age of 18 who have received at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine to enter.

The prizes include 10 free arts tuition prizes for the fall semester as well as two full-year graduate thesis-based tuition prizes. A number of other prizes will also be announced in the future.

Rowan Ley, the Students’ Union President at the University of Alberta, told CTV Edmonton that there are no losers in this contest.

“Even if you don’t win one of our prize packs, you’ve still done your part to make our community safer and get us all back to the in-person classes that we want and I think that’s enough of a win in itself.”

Students can enter themselves into the draw starting on Aug. 27. The last day to enter is Sept. 10 at noon. Students must have received at least one dose of the vaccine by Sept. 10 to qualify.

On-site vaccination will also be provided at the university. Mass clinics will be held on Aug. 31, Sept. 1-2 and Sept. 7-8.

The clinics are free and available for drop-in service. Locations will be announced by the university.

University Health Centre is also booking vaccination appointments for the Moderna vaccine online.

“We want to make sure that we’re offering people the incentive and the opportunity to be vaccinated so at this point there’s no excuses,” Ley noted.

The University of Alberta Students’ Union was joined by the University of Alberta, the Graduate Students’ Association, and the Alumni Association in providing support and prizes for the contest.

EDMONTON — Technical issues on the MyHealth Records app is making it a challenge for some Albertans to prove they’re vaccinated against COVID-19.

In lieu of a provincial vaccine card or passport announced in B.C., Manitoba and Quebec, the province is encouraging Albertans to use the app to access their immunization records. But some people are encountering problems with the program.

“It was only showing we had one vaccine. I said, ‘But we had the second one weeks ago,'” said Anne Abbott. “It wasn’t up to date.”

An Edmonton pharmacist says she’s not the only one: Several people have called the Terwillegar Pharmacy asking about their incomplete vaccination records.

“They were checking, ‘Did you really upload the information? Can I have proof the information was uploaded?'” Mohamed Elfishawi said.

Elfishawi says when a person gets vaccinated at his pharmacy the information is automatically uploaded to the province’s Netcare system, where Albertans’ medical information is entered and stored.

One concerned person had their first dose at the Terwillegar Pharmacy and their second at an immunization clinic. Neither COVID-19 immunization showed up on their MyHealth Records app.

Elfishawi checked Netcare and it showed the patient had been double vaccinated, but that information still hasn’t shown up on their MyHealth Records app.

“I think it’s an overload in the system, I don’t think it’s something that’s intentional,” said Elfishawi. “Maybe it’s a glitch, maybe they’re working on it.”

A notice on the app says it’s experiencing technical issues and some information may not be up to date.

In a statement Alberta Health said it is “investigating records individually and working to secure more resources to make immunization record inquiries more timely. We understand how important it is for Albertans to have appropriate access to their immunization records right now.”

Alberta Health added it will soon be possible for Albertans to print a paper card with their vaccination record.

Ottawa recently announced all Canadians will need proof of vaccination in order to board a commercial plane or train by the end of October.

The Edmonton Oilers announced Tuesday proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test, will be a requirement for people over 12 to enter Rogers Place and says the records found on the MyHealth Records app are suitable as proof.

Multiple people have said the app is working smoothly while others have reported delays and hurdles even creating an account.

Abbott says she would prefer what Manitoba and B.C. are doing.

“I don’t understand why the government isn’t saying, ‘of course you should have a card.”’

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Dan Grummett.