The bi-weekly report tracks respiratory illness activity, such as COVID-19 and influenza.
Saskatchewan reported 845 COVID-19 deaths in 2022, including 10 more deaths in the last two weeks, according to the latest report on respiratory illnesses from the provincial government.
The report is the first published this year. It tracks respiratory illness activity, including COVID-19 and influenza.
The report shows that 10 people died between Dec. 18 and Dec. 31. During this period, three people died of influenza.
Intensive care unit admissions related to COVID-19 remained at eight in each of the two weeks tracked, and most were people over the age of 60, the report said.
Test positivity for COVID-19 increased to 6.7 per cent during this period from 5.8 per cent in the last week reported (Dec. 11 to Dec. 17). Influenza test positivity fell to five per cent between Dec. 25 and 31.
The number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 and influenza cases has declined, but the number of lab-confirmed RSV cases have been increasing, as has RSV test positivity.
Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 was detected for the first time in Saskatchewan during the two weeks tracked.
This subvariant has been dubbed the “Kraken” in headlines and on social media. Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization cautions against nicknames like these.
She said that’s not what scientists actually call the subvariant, and explained that the name XBB.1.5 reflects its evolutionary history. The imagery of a “release the Kraken” monster isn’t consistent with what is known about it so far, she said.
“What’s different about it from XBB.1 is that it has a single mutation of the spike protein and from your immune system’s perspective, that suggests that it’s not going to be very different in terms of the protection that you’ll have against it, from XBB,” she said.
Rasmussen added there also so far hasn’t been any indication XBB.1.5 is causing people to become more sick than any other Omicron subvariant.
She encourages the public continue to try to use masks, improve ventilation, stay home when sick and take other measures to reduce exposure for themselves and others who may be more vulnerable, as well as getting up to date on boosters.
The CRISP report shows that over the two-week period, less than half of the population eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19 — 45.9 per cent — are up-to-date and have both their primary doses plus at least one booster. During this timeframe, only a quarter of eligible residents have received an influenza vaccine.
On Friday, the province announced additional vaccine options for children.
As of Jan. 9, the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine will be available as a first or additional booster for children five to 11 years old; for those who are 12 to 17, the Novavax Nuvaxovid vaccine will be available as a primary series and booster dose.
According to a media release, both of these vaccines are in limited supply so they will only be available through certain SHA, Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority and Indigenous Services Canada public health clinics and will not be available through pharmacies at this time.
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