The Government of Saskatchewan, in its first monthly update on COVID-19 , says the virus’s activity is increasing in Saskatchewan. Compared to the previous reporting period which was June 19 to 25th, test positivity increased from 3.8 to 4.0 per cent.

Regina, Saskatoon, South West, Central West and North West zones all have test positivity above five per cent with the largest increases occurring in South West and Central West zones.  There were 628 new cases in the period from June 26 to July 16.

In that same time frame admissions to hospital have increased with 229 people in hospital due to COVID-19. The province says calls to 811 for respiratory-like illness and RLI visits to emergency departments have increased and  on average, 76 people were hospitalized per week, compared to 67 hospitalizations in the week of June 19 to 25.

Fifteen of the 229 were admitted into the ICU. There were 22 deaths reported with eight of those deaths having not previously been reported in an earlier time period.

The Omicron sublineages BA.4/BA.5 are now the dominant sublineages detected in Saskatchewan. BA.4 and BA.5 have increased from 1.4 per cent in the beginning of June to 65.6 per cent from June 26 to July 16.

As of July 16, more than 21.6 million rapid antigen test kits that have been distributed in the province. More than 90 per cent of residents 50 years and older and more than 80 per cent of residents 12 to 49 years have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

All residents 12 years and older are eligible for third doses and residents 50 years and older are eligible for fourth doses.