Key Takeaways:
- In its first COVID-19 update since Sunday, the Saskatchewan government reported 5,401 provincial PCR confirmed cases and 22 new deaths.
- He added that daily data lacks the same weight due to the province’s restriction of PCR testing to priority groups.
Between January 30 and February 5, the Saskatchewan govt reported 5,401 provincial PCR confirmed cases and 22 new deaths in its first COVID-19 update since Sunday.
Last week, the government declared that it would no longer provide daily COVID-19 updates, instead opting for weekly data releases on Thursdays.
As of Wednesday, there were 384 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. 206 of the infections were unintentional.
On Wednesday, a total of 26 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to the ICU.
Also read: The repeal of the proof-of-vaccination policy has received mixed reactions
From January 30 to February 5, health officials confirmed 30 new COVID-19 outbreaks in high-risk areas.
With 539.4 confirmed new instances per 100,000, the north-central zone had the highest weekly revealed new cases.
The moderate count of new cases per week was just over 771.
Because the period of January 30 to February 5 was earlier reflected through daily COVID-19 dashboard updates, key metrics such as new case counts were already reported to the public.
Data such as the situation this Thursday, for example, won’t be observed until next Thursday.
However, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, previously stated that using a seven-day average a few days later is still an effective approach to assessing individual risk – a central principle in the province’s plan to eliminate the requirement for proof of vaccination on Monday and the use of indoor masks by the end of the month.
As per Dr. Joseph Blondeau, the provincial lead for clinical microbiology with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the “comprehensive” 15-page weekly summary should not overwhelm the average person.
Blondeau said, “The data in the report is constant with what we have expected based on trends shown in Canada, the United States, and Western Europe.”
Due to the province’s restriction of PCR testing to priority groups, he added daily data also lacks the same weight.
Before the data release, NDP Leader Ryan Meili told reporters that Premier Scott Moe backed the change to weekly reporting as a way to “hide the information” about COVID-19.
“You can’t put your faith in him when it comes to our health.” Meili stated, “You can’t trust him to tell the truth.”
According to Meili, a family physician, people get an untrue sense of security about the severity of the pandemic.
Global News requested an interview with Premier Brad Wall but instead received a statement from the Saskatchewan government.
“The Omicron variant is more transmissible than previous waves, but less severe, and can be self-managed in most cases,” it says.
“For the public and the media, the new weekly report contains more data and analysis.”
Source: Global News
