Alberta's COVID-related death toll so far in 2022 is higher than the same period in previous years of the pandemic. There were 1,247 deaths between Jan. 1 and June 6 of this year, compared to 1,038 during the same time period last year and 152 in 2020. The number of daily COVID-related deaths has dropped in recent weeks but the baseline for both deaths and hospitalizations remains stubbornly high . 'Get your shots'Dr. Noel Gibney agrees Alberta's lagging vaccination rate is a key driver of the high 2022 death toll. Bakshi believes deferred health care during earlier waves of the pandemic is also playing a role in the high death toll.

Source: CBC News June 09, 2022 23:12 UTC