REGINA — The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health's weekly COVID-19 integrated epidemiology (epi) report was issued Thursday, June 30 for the period ending June 25 and there are a few things you should know.
Fall Booster Campaign Planning Underway
On June 29, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has released guidance for fall COVID-19 vaccination planning, reinforcing that all residents should be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations with all eligible booster doses. The guidance included additional doses for those at elevated risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes and providing an additional dose to all residents 12 years and older.
This will be incorporated into provincial planning for the COVID-19 vaccination program for this fall. Details will be announced when finalized.
Shift to a Monthly COVID-19 Reporting Schedule After This Week
The province now begins the transition to monthly reporting. On July 21, a three-week report will be released (rJune 26 to July 16). The first monthly report will be released on August 18 (with a reporting period of July 17 to August 13). There will no longer be a news release announcing the release of the report. The epidemiological report will continue to be released at 1:30 p.m. Thursdays and be posted at saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-cases.
The Ministry and health sector partners will continue to monitor COVID-19 surveillance data and the frequency of reporting may be adjusted in the future based on observed trends.
Weekly COVID-19 Epi Report
Here’s the summary of findings from epi report, which presents data from Sunday, June 19 to Saturday, June 25, 2022:
- 5,372 laboratory tests were performed in Saskatchewan reflecting 4.5 tests performed per 1,000 population. The number of tests was lower than the number of tests in the previous week (5,635).
- Wekly test positivity of 3.8 per cent, is lower than the previous week (four per cent); the highest test positivity this week was in the South East zone (9.6 per cent).
- 208 new cases were confirmed reflecting 17 laboratory-confirmed cases per 100,000 population, lower than the number of new cases in the previous week (231).
- The majority of laboratory-confirmed cases this week continue to be 50 years and older (57.2 per cent).
- There were 168 new lineage results reported this week. Of the 168 variants of concern identified by whole genome sequencing, 100 per cent were Omicron. The Omicron BA.2 sublineage accounted for 95.2 per cent of the variants of concern reported the week of June 19 to 25, 2022. BA.2 sublineage is more transmissible compared to pre-variant 2020 COVID-19 and BA.1 sub-lineages but there is no current evidence of increased severity. BA.5 sublineage detections accounted for 3.6 per cent this week.
- There were three newly-reported COVID-19 deaths —:two within the week, and one that occurred earlier (June 18, 2022). This is a decrease from the previous week (12).
- There were 28.4 COVID-like illness patients per 1,000 emergency department visits which is an increase from last week (18.6 per 1,000).
- Three (3) confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care and care home settings were reported this week.
Vaccinations remain stable
- Immunization rates for primary series and booster uptake have remained stable over the last four weeks. Of the eligible populations five and older, 81.2% have completed a series.
- Among the population 18 years and older, 52.8 per cent had received at least one booster vaccination.
Prescriptions being filled
- As of June 26, 2022, there have been 574 Paxlovid prescriptions filled, and there have been 43 Remdesivir prescriptions with a total of 121 infusions completed.
- Over 21.4 million rapid antigen test kits have been distributed in the province. They are easily accessible at more than 600 locations.
