'Basics remain the same': Sask.’s CMHO gives advice ahead of fall COVID-19 surge
Saskatchewan’s top doctor is reminding residents not to get complacent, as the province is on the cusp of a fall COVID-19 surge.
“The basics remain the same. If you are unwell, stay home,” said Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab.
“If you are in a crowded place with lots of people you don’t know, it’s a good idea to wear a mask and that’s increasingly going to be more important in the fall.”
COVID-19 transmission is increasing across the province, according to the Saskatchewan government’s latest epidemiology report released Thursday.
Data, from July 17 to Aug. 13, shows hospital admissions have increased from the previous report. The number of hospitalizations averaged about 122 each week, compared to 88 each week from the previous report.
ICU admissions are holding fairly steady, averaging seven per week, according to the report, and 27 people died from the virus between July 17 to Aug. 13.
COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care and high-risk settings increased 15 fold with 46 outbreaks recorded in the last update.
“We are entering third fall in the pandemic and each year is totally different,” the doctor said, adding the absence or presence of vaccinations and public health measures have largely determined the outcomes of our fall surges.
“We are now entering our seventh wave … and what we’ve seen in other jurisdictions is it doesn’t seem to go as high as the previous Omicron wave, and that certainly is what we hope will be the case here.”
Dr. Cory Neudorf, interim senior medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said this wave is largely driven by the Omicron sub-variant BA.5.
“Most of the attempts at predicting that I’ve seen have shown that we will see a slow continued increase in cases through September and into early October,” he said.
Nationally, 42 per cent of kids 5 to 11 years old have their second vaccination and fewer than one in five teenagers ages 12 to 17 have their first booster dose.
Neudorf said low vaccine uptake makes other measures that much more important, including mask use, hand washing and staying home when sick.
Shahab is hopeful that kids ages 5 to 11 will receive their third dose now that Health Canada has approved Pfizer’s youth booster vaccine.
“Right now, two doses is not enough to be considered fully vaccinated,” Shahab said.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority said its provincial vaccination teams will assess vaccine supply and delivery logistics, and there will be a public announcement on availability for youth booster doses as soon as a plan is reached.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
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.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
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.
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.