Thread by @awong37

Weekly Saskatchewan COVID-19 data for Feb 13-19.

KEY POINTS:
- 37 deaths over 7 days. 1 b/w 20-39, all others >= 40
- Hospitalizations & ICU admissions decreasing (phew)
- Weekly test positivity 14.4% (last wk ~20%)
- ALL Omicron (no breakdown of BA.1 vs BA.2)

Brief 🧵 /1

Let's start with key data around hospitalizations & ICU admissions.

Week-by-week hospitalizations down 9% to 372, ICU down 18% to 27. Slowly coming down, thankfully.

Of those with known COVID status, 42% in hospital/ICU "due to COVID", 58% "incidental". /2

We can see that overall hospital admissions per day definitely decreasing now across all regions of Saskatchewan, but it's a relatively slow decrease, likely driven by limited protections we have in place provincially.

Still, this is reassuring and encouraging. /3

Different way to visualize overall hospital census numbers. Again, we're seeing slow decreases, but hopefully we've reached and moved past our peak re: hospitalizations / ICU admissions.

Wish we could see that curve come down faster, though. /4

ICU admissions coming down as well.

We see 2 peaks, one from the initial Omicron surge, and then a second as our #SK hospitals filled up. However, things look definitely like they're on the downswing with critically ill patients too. /5

Here's PCR testing data & test positivity information by regions in #SK.

Overall test positivity in Saskatchewan has decreased to 14.4% from 20.2% week over week. Again, encouraging.

Hard to interpret region-by-region data as PCR testing limited now, so won't even bother. /6

This graph just illustrates the time period for which Omicron took over from Delta in Saskatchewan.

Essentially by mid-January, everything was Omicron.

Important to understand BA.1 vs BA.2 breakdown for Saskatchewan but that was not made available in this data report. /7

Deaths week-by-week DID come down, but rates are still very high. 37 deaths over 7 days, compared to 42 the previous week.

One person b/w 20-39 died. All others over 60. Most over 80. 😢

Rate of death in Saskatchewan equivalent to 65 persons dead per day in Ontario. 😢😢😢 /8

Vaccine uptake in #SK has stalled.

For ages 5+:

- Only 0.1% increase in first doses given
- Only 0.2% increase in 2nd doses given
- Only 0.4% increase in 3rd doses given

ONLY Regina reports over 80% of eligible population fully vaccinated (2+ doses). /9

So in summary, #SK doing a bit better in hospitals and ICUs as Omicron slowly begins to crest & fade.

Wastewater data from Regina and Saskatoon was concerning this week, hopefully this will not translate to more hospital / ICU pressure.

Impact of BA.2 is unknown right now. /10

Death rates have remained high for the 2nd week in a row, including an individual under 40.

#SK's death rate from COVID-19 remains high, tragic, and likely under-reported.

Let's hope that deaths peak and come down quickly soon. /11

As protections end across Saskatchewan come March 1 (e.g. indoor masking), the outcome will be slower-than-ideal decreases in our hospitalization / ICU admission numbers, but we DO appear to be past this peak now.

Hopefully BA.2 will not cause a resurgence. /12

Vaccine uptake in Saskatchewan has slowed to almost nothing now. Not surprising and predictable especially with the end of our proof-of-vaccine certificates.

Only one place in Saskatchewan, Regina, has a vaccine uptake rate of greater than 80% for those ages 5+. /13

All #SK hospitals definitely remain under massive pressure. #SK ICUs, less so.

In an ideal world, we would be removing protections when our hospitals & ICUs decant even further than they are right now.

Not to be, however. /14

Omicron remains very much present in Saskatchewan.

Minimal protections means our wave will be prolonged compared to other jurisdictions. It is what it is.

Good news? Hospital/ICU admits have hopefully peaked for this wave. Fingers crossed this continues.

Be safe, all.

/end