Respiratory viral activity is expanding in Saskatchewan, while COVID hospitalizations have been robust since July, according to a report released Thursday by the provincial Health Ministry.
The report, which combines knowledge about COVID and other respiratory illnesses, replaces the monthly COVID-focused reports the province shared in the past.
Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said the format of the report has that there are now more respiratory viruses circulating.
“This is the time when we were waiting for the arrival of respiratory viruses,” Shahab told reporters on Wednesday. “So, the time has come. “
The Ministry of Health will publish the report every two weeks during the respiratory illness season, rather than monthly as COVID reports have been since the beginning of this year.
Confirmed COVID cases and deaths have declined, with others over the age of 60 being the main victims, according to the province. There were 39 COVID-related deaths in the province from September 11 to October 8.
Shahab said COVID hospitalizations spiked in September, but are now at a “plateau. “
According to the report, there are hospitalizations consistent with the week.
ICU admissions are also stable, roughly consistent with the week, according to the report.
Shahab said most of the hospitalized patients are older and were admitted for another reason, but later developed COVID symptoms. He said he recommends masking yourself to keep the fitness formula under control.
“Certainly, wearing a mask, especially if you’re older, have immunosuppression, will decrease the number of hospitalizations,” Shahab said.
Shahab predicts an early flu season and said the province could face other COVID scenarios.
“The first is that our COVID rates will start to stabilize and minimize for a month or so, and then the flu will start to rise,” he said.
However, if COVID rates continue to rise, the province may have simultaneous outbreaks of COVID and flu, Shahab said.
“The flu can happen anywhere from November to March, we can’t wait for when it will arrive, but I think we prepared for an early flu season and didn’t delay flu vaccination,” he said.
The report says that outside of Regina, where the rate is 51 percent, less than a portion of the population in all other regions is up to date with their COVID vaccines, which the province defines as the first vaccine circular and minus a booster.
All Saskatchewan citizens over the age of 18 are eligible for the bivalent COVID vaccine, which targets strains of the virus now peaking in Canada, provided it has been at least 4 months since their last dose.
So far, 3. 6 percent of eligible adults have won the bivalent vaccine, according to the report.
Pfizer’s bivalent vaccine, which Health Canada approved last week, will be available to Saskatchewan citizens starting next week, according to Health Minister Paul Merriman.
The bivalent Moderna vaccine has been available for several weeks.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has stated that bivalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are now the booster.
Shahab said it’s important for others to be up to date on their COVID vaccines.
“For COVID, I think we want it to not matter how many doses you’ve won in the past. If you’re 4 months away from your last dose of COVID, move on to getting a bivalent,” he said.
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