The latest Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program Report shows that Influenza test positivity in Saskatchewan has increased from 13.5 per cent to 40.1 per cent in the past month. That is the highest increase since the start of Saskatchewan’s flu season and surpasses the same period in the last two seasons.

Severe outcomes, including hospitalizations, ICU admissions and outbreaks have all increased and one death has been reported in the past two weeks.

COVID-19 test positivity has decreased in the past 3 weeks from 6.8 per cent to 5.1 per cent. In the current week, just under half of all COVID cases were in adults between the ages of 20 to 64. No COVID deaths were reported in the last two weeks.

RSV test positivity remained stable, with two thirds of the cases being in children under 5. School absenteeism increased from 15 per cent to 17.8 per cent. 18 respiratory virus associated outbreaks were reported in high risk settings like long term care facilities, personal care homes and group homes. 15 were Influenza A, 2 were rhinovirus, and one was COVID-19.

Currently in Saskatchewan, about 20 per cent of people are vaccinated against Influenza and 13 per cent are vaccinated against COVID-19.