EDMONTON — Alberta Health Services says a patient has died while waiting for care in an emergency ward.

AHS spokesman Kerry Williamson says the patient had been triaged at the Red Deer Regional Hospital and reassessed by emergency staff Sunday, but died before receiving further care.

The emergency department was fully staffed at the time.

Health Minister Jason Copping announced new measures on Monday to free up ambulances and reduce long wait times in hospital ERs due to high COVID-19 caseloads and staff shortages due to illness

Williamson says the death is being investigated and it’s not yet known whether it was the result of a long wait.

Alberta has a record 1,377 people in hospital with COVID-19.

Copping says while the Omicron wave of the pandemic appears to be receding, hospitalizations are still expected to increase in the short term.

The Canadian Press