Weekly reporting data shows continuing high impact of COVID-19

Weekly data provided by the province outlines the continuing impact of COVID-19 across the province. In the 12 reports issued since February 10, a total of 318 Saskatchewan residents have died of COVID-19, with 186 of those individuals in the 80 and over age group. There were seven COVID-19 deaths reported in the Southwest.

During the various waves of the pandemic between March 8, 2020 to April 23, 2022, there have been 1,310 COVID-19 deaths. Over one in five deaths (290 or 22.1 per cent) were in the 70 to 79 year age group and close to one half (603 or 46 per cent) were in the 80 years and older group.

On April 26 the province expanded the eligibility for fourth doses of vaccinations in order to address the impact of COVID on older individuals and to encourage more people to receive vaccinations while COVID remains active.

During the two months period from February 13 to April 16, 2022 the province has reported a benefit among those receiving booster shots when compared to unvaccinated individuals. The risk of hospitalization was five times higher, ICU admission was nine times higher, and death was seven time higher among unvaccinated individuals compared to those vaccinated with three doses of a two-dose vaccine.

Saskatchewan’s vaccination totals have stagnated over the past weeks. In the initial weekly COVID-19 report issued by the province, a total of 49.5 per cent of the population 18 years and older had received at least one booster vaccination, and that total has only grown to 51.8 per cent, increasing 2.3 per cent between February 5 and April 23.