COVID-19 ICU admissions force Sask. into health care 'red zone'
The rising tide of COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care has pushed Saskatchewan into the red zone, which triggered out-of-province patient transfers and means the health-care system is severely challenged, according to a presentation to doctors Thursday night.
Presentation slides from the physician town hall – which are generally posted online the following day – show Saskatchewan has the highest number of COVID-19 ICU patients per capita compared to other provinces at any point during the pandemic.
The system is considered to be in the "red zone" when there are between 116 and 149 patients in intensive care; 149 patients and upwards is considered the "black zone."
A slide from the Saskatchewan Health Authority's physician town hall on Oct. 21 shows the province is now in the 'red zone.' (Source: SHA)
As of Friday, there are 117 patients receiving intensive care in Saskatchewan, including 80 COVID-19 patients and 37 non-COVID patients. The province usually has an ICU capacity of 79 beds outside of the pandemic.
Six COVID-19 patients have been transferred to Ontario and three more are expected to be transferred by Sunday. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said Friday transfers will pick up next week, where it’s anticipated two to four patients could be transferred each day.
Triage is widely applied in the red zone and there is an extensive slowdown of services, including cancellation of critical care surgeries, like open heart or neuro procedures, where a patient could need a bed in intensive care.
During a media briefing Friday, Derek Miller, emergency operations centre commander with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said the province is still in stage one of its triage plan and there are currently no plans to move to the next stage, though a committee is in place to monitor the situation.
ICU admissions are expected to continue increasing in the coming weeks. According to the presentation, care is deteriorating as the number of ICU patients approaches 125.
The slides show there are 57 patients outside the ICU on high-flow oxygen who have a high probability of needing ICU care or would normally be in the intensive care unit under different circumstances.
The health authority said Wednesday the province is currently at an “unsustainable” level in intensive care units because of the the high number of hospitalizations and the impact on other medical procedures.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.