REGINA — The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health's weekly COVID-19 integrated epidemiology (EPI) report was issued Thursday for the period April 24-30 and there are a few things you should know.
Reported cases down
Seven hundred and sixty-six new cases were confirmed, reflecting 0.6 laboratory-confirmed cases per 1,000 population. That is down from the number the previous week (829).
Hospitalizations down
The total hospitalized for COVID-19 as of May 4 is 390, down from 409 as of April 27. The total in adult ICU/ICU surge is 20, same as a week ago.
Number of deaths same as last report
There14 newly-reported COVID-19 deaths, unchanged from the previous week.
BA.2 sublineage is vast majority of cases
Omicron BA.2 sublineage accounted for 83.4 per cent of the variants of concern reported this week. That percentage is higher than the week before.
50 and older urged to be boosted
The province is noting that only a little more than half of residents 18 years and up have had at least one booster vaccination.
The province noted that from Feb. 13 to April 16, an unvaccinated person was five times more likely to be hospitalized, nine times more likely to be admitted to ICU and seven times more likely to die from COVID-19 than an individual with three doses.
Residents are reminded that all those 12 years and older are eligible to receive a third dose (four months after their second dose) and all residents 50 years and older are eligible to receive a fourth dose (second booster) four months after their last dose.
Those with designated medical conditions may be able to receive an additional dose within three months.
