Saskatchewan health officials have reported a total of 913 new COVID-19 cases — a new daily record — and one death Thursday.
Saskatoon has the most new cases at 432 and Regina follows with 198.
There are now 5,235 cases considered active and 82,442 cases are considered recovered. Officials say almost half (46.1 per cent) of new cases are in the age category of 20 to 39.
Officials report as of Thursday, 100 individuals are hospitalized, including 88 inpatient hospitalizations and 12 intensive care hospitalizations. Out of the 100 patients, 50 (50 per cent) were not fully vaccinated.
The province will now be reporting incidental hospitalization data, meaning identifying which patients are in hospital for COVID-19-related illness, and which patients have COVID-19 but were admitted to hospital for a non-COVID-19-related reason, such as a broken leg.
As of Thursday’s update, 42 inpatient hospitalizations are COVID-19-related illnesses and 39 are labelled as incidental. There are seven cases that have not yet been determined as COVID-19-related or incidental.
Of the 12 patients with COVID-19 in ICU, one case is considered an incidental, asymptomatic infection.
The seven-day average number of new COVID-19 cases was 597 (49.5 new cases per 100,000). Health officials report that since Jan. 1, the New Cases by Vaccination Status table has shown a significant number of new cases as unvaccinated and this data is under review to ensure that the reports are accurate.
Officials reported Thursday that 3,307 more tests have been given and 2,172 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered.
Not the time for gatherings: Sask. CMHO
Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab had strong recommendations for the public during a provincial emergency operations centre briefing on Thursday afternoon.
“Right now I’m saying don’t have any gatherings. We need … to do everything to blunt the wave. This is not the time for any gatherings at all,” Shahab said.
“You should do what is essential, which means going to work, going to school, but otherwise not having any contact with anyone outside their household.”
There are no provincial mandates in place currently that limit gatherings — indoor or outdoor.
Despite this, Shahab maintained that it is critical for individuals not to have any contacts outside their household in order to “blunt the wave.”
Shahab also recommended residents wear their best masks, get their booster and use rapid antigen testing kits that are available across the province.
He added residents need to be very cautious over the next two to four weeks.
“The government relies on the public actually doing the right thing, and most of us do. But if a significant portion don’t, then that means, unfortunately, the government would have to consider stronger measures if it’s no longer happening and the surge is out of control.”
Shahab said one large transmission event could lead to hundreds of cases and within a week, thousands of cases as the doubling time is three to four days.
“One single, ill-planned and not recommended event can result in thousands of cases, which once they impact people who are unvaccinated or older, more frail and immunocompromised, will lead to an increase in hospitalizations,” Shahab added.