Alberta records 644 new cases of COVID-19, 235 new variant cases

Alberta reported 644 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and three additional deaths.

Active cases climbedto 7,698, from 7,366 recorded on Saturday. Variants of concern now account for25.6 per cent of active cases in the province, or 1,972.

There were 235 newcases of the B117 variant, first identified in the U.K. reportedin the last 24 hours.

Labs completed 11,953 tests for COVID-19 on Saturday, for a positivity rate of about 5.3 per cent.

The three deaths reported Sundaytook place in the Edmonton, Calgary, and North zones, bringing the total number of deaths since the pandemic started to 1,983.

Across the province, 277 people were being treated in hospital for the disease on Sunday, including 63 in intensive care units.

Here is the regional breakdown of active cases on Sunday:

• Calgary zone: 3,565
• Edmonton zone: 1,734
• North zone: 855
• Central zone: 700
• South zone: 815
• Unknown: 29

Alberta hadadministered 594,723 doses of the vaccine as of the end of the day, Saturday.

• Alberta reports 668 new cases of COVID-19, one additional death
• Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Sunday, March 28

The next live update from Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province's chief medical officer of health, is expectedon Tuesday.