Sask. health authority outlines ICU capacity concerns as province continues to reach pandemic-high hospitalizations
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is bracing the system for record-high COVID-19 hospitalizations as this number of patients needing intensive and acute care are expected to increase in the coming weeks.
Dr. Susan Shaw, chief medical officer for the SHA, said there are now enough COVID-19 inpatients to fill both hospitals in Swift Current and Prince Albert.
Hospitalizations hit 273 on Thursday, marking the fifth day in a row the province hit a new record. The SHA said 60 of those patients are in the ICU as of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, another pandemic high. There are 24 non-COVID ICU patients, bringing the ICU total to 84 – which exceeds the province’s baseline capacity of 79 ICU beds. The SHA has added 24 surge beds to take ICU capacity to 103.
As hospitalizations continue to increase, the SHA said the demand is beginning to shift from the Saskatoon area and the north to Regina and rural areas, where active cases are slowly beginning to trend upwards.
The health authority has activated its surge capacity plans and is preparing to care for 125 COVID-19 patients in the ICU and 350 COVID-19 patients in acute care in the coming weeks
Derek Miller, emergency operations centre commander for the SHA, said the health authority has added 36 adult medicine beds in Saskatoon and 22 beds in Regina in addition to the ICU surge beds.
Aside from beds for critically ill patients, Dr. Shaw said there is another resource that has limits: health-care workers.
“We will continue to try and expand our ICU as best we can. But the finite resource are skilled health-care personnel who work in the team that provides care to the ICU patients,” said Dr. Shaw.
The health authority continues to prepare for the surge to come. Miller estimates most of the cases currently in hospital were identified 10 to 14 days ago. Infections have increased since then, with over 6,000 new cases confirmed in the last two weeks.
Miller said the SHA will do its best to meet the increasing demand, but people also need to do their part to bend the curve.
“No one can predict for sure what will come longer term because this is all completely dependent on the behavior of Saskatchewan residents,” said Miller.
“That’s why I urge everyone to follow the new public health orders, wear your mask, and most of all, if you are eligible, please get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.