Here's a breakdown of COVID-19 hospitalizations, case data from August
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health is reinforcing the use of COVID-19 vaccines as the best defense against the virus, citing hospitalization and case data from August.
The report comes as case numbers continue to rise in Saskatchewan. The government reported 305 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, bringing the seven-day average to 350 – or 29.1 per 100,000 people. This is the highest seven-day average reported to date.
Out of the 189 people who were hospitalized with COVID-19 in August, 150 – or 79.4 per cent – were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first dose. Fourteen cases, or 7.4 per cent, were partially vaccinated with one dose, and 39 cases, 20.6 per cent, were fully vaccinated.
Forty-one Saskatchewan residents were treated for COVID-19 in intensive care with 33 – or 80 per cent – unvaccinated or testing positive within three weeks of their first dose. Two cases, 4.9 per cent, were partially vaccinated with one dose and eight cases, 19.5 per cent, were fully vaccinated.
Of the 4,596 new cases reported last month, 3,840 cases, were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first dose. Four hundred and twenty-four cases were partially vaccinated with one dose, 756 cases were fully vaccinated.
Twenty-two Saskatchewan residents died of COVID-19 in August. Twelve were unvaccinated.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health cited underlying health issues and age as factors that contribute to COVID-19 outcomes.
Of the fully vaccinated people who got COVID-19 in August, 17.6 per cent (133) had comorbid conditions.
Fourteen hospitalized cases with a first dose, 42.9 per cent, had existing health conditions and 21.4 per cent were 70 years or older.
Thirty-nine hospitalized cases with a second dose, 56.4 per cent, had existing health conditions and 69.2 per cent were 70 years and older.
However, other age groups continue to see significant COVID-19 symptoms. Twenty-three, a quarter of the 94 infectious COVID-19 patients in acute care, were younger than 40.
CHILD AGE BREAKDOWN OF HOSPITALIZATIONS
Seventeen per cent of Saskatchewan’s new cases in August were children aged 11 and younger.
Of the 189 individuals who were hospitalized, 5.3 per cent – or 10 cases – were aged 19 years or younger and 3.2 per cent – or six cases – were under 12 with one patient under 12 admitted to ICU.
GETTING VACCINATED
There is no COVID-19 vaccine available for children under 12.
“Transmissible diseases like COVID-19 are opportunistic: they will spread to and among under- and unvaccinated populations. It's critical that all eligible Saskatchewan residents get vaccinated,” the ministry said in a news release.
Moderna and Pfizer shots are both Health Canada-approved for use in people over 12. Eleven-year-olds who will turn 12 before Dec. 31, 2021, are also eligible to be vaccinated.
While the province says two standard vaccine doses provide "optimal protection" from COVID-19, the province will begin offering booster shots for eligible populations.
The eligible groups include residents of long-term care and personal care homes, transplant recipients, people undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Letters are in the mail for eligible recipients, who are asked to use the letter as proof of eligibility. Additional populations will become eligible in the coming weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.