Saskatchewan reports four virus-related deaths

EAGLE STAFF

Four Saskatchewan residents died during mid- to late January from the viruses that cause influenza and Covid-19.

The two people who succumbed to the flu both died between Jan. 11 and 17, while one person died from Covid-19 that week and the other between Jan. 18 and 24, the most recent week covered in the province’s latest report.

“Over the past four weeks, influenza activity has declined, Covid-19 activity has remained stable and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) activity has increased in Saskatchewan,” the Jan. 30 Health Department statement said.

“RSV test positivity doubled during this period, with the majority of cases and hospitalizations occurring among children under five years of age.” Toddlers made up 56 of the 97 people with RSV during Jan. 18-24, a chart showed.

A total of 33 people sick with Covid-19 that week were between 20 and 64 years old, as were 31 of the 82 people with the flu.

The number of residents who tested positive for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 dropped to 82 during Jan. 18-24 from 89 between Jan. 11 and 17. Those declines followed larger ones from 122 and 124 during the two previous weeks.

Positive cases of influenza sank to 94 during the most recent week from 767 during Dec. 28-Jan. 3.

A total of 35 people with Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals during the two most recent weeks, down from 67 during the two previous weeks. Four required intensive case, compared to six in the two earliest weeks the report covered.

Eight of the 42 people admitted with the flu during the two latest weeks needed intensive care, down from 20 of the 233 admitted over the two previous weeks.

A total of 65 people went to hospital with RSV during the recent two-week span, with three needing extra care, down from four of the 67 admitted during the two earlier weeks.

“Approximately 22 per cent and 14 per cent of Saskatchewan residents are vaccinated against influenza and Covid-19, respectively,” the statement added.