(Lisa Schick/980 CJME file photo)

By paNOW Staff

COVID Update

COVID on the rise in Saskatchewan as ministry reports rise in case positivity

Aug 18, 2022 | 2:31 PM

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health is reporting increases in COVID-related hospitalizations and positive tests over the last month.

In a comparison with the previous COVID-19 Integrated Epidemiology Situation (EPI) report period from June 26 to July 16, the report dated from July 17 to August 13 released Thursday noted an increase in test positivity from four to 7.4 per cent across the province.

Central East and Saskatoon have the highest test positivity rate with each at 10 per cent with the Far North East region having the lowest rate at 3.2 per cent.

Calls to 811 for respiratory-like symptoms are stable provincially, but they have increased in Regina and South East zones. Visits to emergency departments for respiratory-like symptoms have also increased.

Reported outbreaks in high-risk settings due to COVID have increased and both COVID hospital admissions and ICU admissions have also increased.

Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

6h ago

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

Dec 11, 2024

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

Dec 11, 2024

Reported deaths due to the virus continue to average around seven per week.

Omicron sublineages BA.4/BA.5 are now the dominant strains detected in Saskatchewan. BA.4 and BA.5 have increased from 3.6 per cent (June 19-25) to 65.6 per cent (June 26-July 16) to currently more than 90 per cent of detections.

As of August 12, more than 22.1 million rapid antigen test kits have been distributed in the province.

Approximately 45 per cent of the population has received at least three doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, and since Aug. 15, Saskatchewan residents ages 18 years and older have been eligible for a second booster dose four months after their third dose.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority and Ministry of Health still report that immunization remains the best protection against severe outcomes of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.

A full copy of the report can be found here. As of June 2022, this report will be provided monthly. This schedule is subject to change, based on COVID-19 surveillance requirements, and, at the time of publication, no date has been set for the next report.

–

panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertNOW