There were 231 new cases of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 reported in the province in this week’s COVID report, down significantly from 392 last week.
There were 12 newly-reported COVID-19 deaths reported during the week – three that happened this week and nine that happened in previous weeks but were reported this week.
There are 157 people in hospital with COVID, compared to 165 the previous week. Also, there are five people in ICU this week compared to six in the last week.
The weekly test positivity of 4.0 per cent this week is lower than the previous week’s 6.5 per cent. The south east had the highest positivity at 9.1 per cent.
Two COVID-19 outbreaks were reported this week in long term care facilities, less than last week’s five outbreaks. The new outbreaks were in Saskatoon and South East zones.
The province also announced that, after next week, they will be shifting to monthly reports from the weekly reports.
“Saskatchewan residents should continue to do their own personal risk assessment over the summer,” Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said in a media release Thursday. “They should continue considering using a mask and improving ventilation if hosting a crowded indoor event; or better still, spend time outdoors during our great Saskatchewan summer.”
The release said that the ministry of health and the health sector partners will monitor COVID-19 surveillance data and that the frequency of reporting may be adjusted in the future based on observed trends.