COVID-19 in Sask.: No deaths reported, lowest number of ICU patients since July

For the eighth day in a row, Saskatchewan is reporting no new deaths due to COVID-19.

Hospitalizations rose by eight, to131 patients with COVID-19 as of Friday, according to the province's latest update. But the number of people in intensive care with the illness dropped by three, to eight.

That's thelowest number of people in ICU with COVID-19 since July 11, when that number stood at six.

The province also reported a record 1,412 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, and 10,325 knownactive cases.

However, those numbers only includethose who have been able to get a PCR test. The case numbers do notinclude people whogot a positive result froma rapid test, or those who may be carryingthe virus that causes COVID-19 but aren't showing any symptoms.

The province'scurrent test positivity rate, based on those who were able to get a PCR test, is32 per cent.

About 43 per cent of the new cases reportedare in the 20-39 age category.

The province has also administered 2,676 more COVID-19 vaccine doses, of which 1,080 were first doses.

There are now874,329 people in the province whoare consideredfully vaccinated.

Prepare for major disruptions

At Thursday evening's Physician's Town Hall, Medical Health Officer Dr. Johnmark Opondosaid theOmicron wave is moving very fast, with casesdoubling every four days and major disruptions are likely.

"This is not only going to be a surge in cases, but this is also going to come with the attendant human resource constraints because of staff illness and staff absenteeism because of taking care of a loved one who might have Omicron at home," Opondo said.

He said most cases will be undiagnosed and everyoneis at risk for infection

Opondosaid ifyou have COVID symptoms, no matter how mild or cold-like, assume it is COVID and self-isolate.

Saskatchewan hasone of the lowest case rates in the country, but italso hasamong the lowest testing rates.

Opondosaid the province is still in the early days of the surge, being three weeks behind Quebec and 10 days behind Ontario.

And he said we have to keep in mind hospitalizations are two weeks behind viral activity in the community.

"We may be at the start of an acceleration of our hospitalization, but ICU still seems to be kind of stable. But this is something that we can expect to be challenged like we've seen in other neighbouring provinces in Canada," he said.

Opondo said even if a small proportion of people are hospitalized the huge number of infections will mean many people being admitted to hospital in a short period of time andwill likely create capacity issues.