REGINA — The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health's COVID-19 integrated epidemiology (epi) report was issued Thursday, Sept. 15 for the period running from Aug. 14 to Sept. 10, and there are a few things you should know.
COVID-19 up in Saskatchewan again
COVID-19 activity is again up in the province of Saskatchewan. The number of new cases for the reporting period is 1932 or 483 per week, compared to 1524 or 381 per week for the period July 17 to Aug. 13.
Compared to the previous reporting period, test positivity increased from 7.4 to 8.9 per cent.
The Far North West (14.4 per cent) and Central West (13.1 per cent) regions have the highest test positivity.
While calls to 811 for respiratory-like symptoms are stable provincially, they increased in the North East and North West zones. Visits to emergency departments for respiratory-like symptoms have decreased provincially from 37 per 1000 in the last reporting period, to 29.5 per 1000.
Decrease in outbreaks reported
Reported outbreaks in high-risk settings due to COVID-19 have decreased, from 46 to 41.
Hospital and ICU admissions up; deaths decreasing
Both COVID-19 hospital admissions and ICU admissions have increased. Hospital admissions stood at 594 or 149 per week compared to 556 or 139 per week the previous reporting period. ICU admissions were 38 or 10 per week, compared to 30 or eight per week.
Reported deaths due to COVID-19 in Saskatchewan were 25 or six per week. That compares to 27 or seven per week the last reporting period.
Omicron BA.4/5 still dominant
Omicron sublineages BA.4/BA.5 have been the dominant sublineages detected in Saskatchewan since the week of
June 26, 2022. The proportions of BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages (5.8 per cent and 92.5 per cent, respectively) have increased this month compared to last month (3.6 per cent and 92.4 per cent respectively).
Still a need for people to get boosted
With approximately 45 per cent of the population receiving at least three doses, the government says more Saskatchewan residents need to receive their COVID-19 booster doses. As of Aug. 15, individuals 18 years and older were eligible for a second booster dose four months after their third dose. Starting Aug. 31, children five to 11 years of age were eligible for a booster dose. The province states that immunization remains the best protection against severe outcomes of COVID-19 including hospitalization and death.
