• As of November 9th, there are 86 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 78,910 reported cases
• The new cases are located in the Far North West (5), Far North East (2), North West (1), North Central (6), North East (1), Saskatoon (20), Central East (18), Regina (9), South Central (3) and South East (11) zones and ten (10) new cases have pending residence information
• Two (2) cases with pending residence information were assigned to the North West (from October 16 (1)), and Central West (from November 6 (1)) zones
• 78,910 cases are confirmed
  • 19,281 cases are from the North area (8,565 North West, 7,913 North Central, 2,803 North East)
  • 18,967 cases are from the Saskatoon area
  • 15,506 cases are from the Regina area
  • 9,660 cases are from the South area (2,120 South West, 2,875 South Central, 4,665 South East)
  • 9,210 cases are from the Far North area (4,316 Far North West, 541 Far North Central, 4,353 Far North East)
  • 5,710 cases are from the Central area (1,402 Central West, 4,308 Central East)
  • 576 cases have pending residence information
• 1,424 cases are considered active and 76,612 cases are considered recovered
• Almost one-third (32.6%) of new cases are in the age category of 11 years or under
• About two-fifths (41.4%) of new cases eligible for vaccination (aged 12 years and older) were fully vaccinated
• As of November 9th, a total of 193 individuals are hospitalized, including 142 inpatient hospitalizations and 51 ICU hospitalizations. Of the 193 patients, 128 (66.3%) were not fully vaccinated.
• In addition to SK ICUs, there are 15 residents in out-of-province ICUs. As these patients are receiving care out of province, this number is not included in the hospitalization counts in the dashboard. Since yesterday’s report, there has been one repatriation and two out of province deaths.
• One (1) new death reported today. 874 Saskatchewan residents with COVID-19 have died, with a case fatality rate of 1.1%.
• 1,243,308 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of November 7, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers are available from PHAC, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 1,049,245 tests performed per million. The national rate was 1,235,364 tests performed per million.
• The 7-day average of new COVID-19 case numbers was 146 (12.1 new cases per 100,000)

COVID-19 Vaccination and Breakthrough Information for October Released

Based on the COVID-19 Vaccination and Breakthrough Infections report for the month of October, the rate of hospitalization was 85/100,000 cases for those who were unvaccinated versus 15/100,000 for those fully vaccinated. The rate for ICU admissions was 21/100,000 for the unvaccinated versus 2/100,000 for the fully vaccinated.  The rate for COVID-19 deaths was 13/100,000 for the unvaccinated versus 3/100,000 for the fully vaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccine is not a cure.  It will not prevent every COVID-19 transmission.  It will reduce the risk of transmission and, when transmission occurs, reduce the risk of serious illness and death.

The Ministry of Health has updated the COVID-19 vaccination and breakthrough information for October 1-31.  Highlights include:

• Of the 10,018 cases reported in October, 7,370 (73.6 per cent) were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination.  Five hundred and eighty cases (5.8 per cent) were partially vaccinated with one dose, while 2,648 cases (26.4 per cent) were fully vaccinated. Of the 2,648 cases with a second dose, 22.8 per cent (604) had comorbid conditions and 22.5 per cent (595) were 65 years and older.
• Of the 461 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, 352 (76.4 per cent) were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination. Thirty-three cases (7.2 per cent) were partially vaccinated with one dose, while 109 cases (23.6 per cent) were fully vaccinated.
• Of the 461 individuals hospitalized in October, six were 12-19 years and 17 were 11 years and younger.
• Of the 98 individuals admitted to ICU, 85 (86.7 per cent) were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination. Six cases (6.1 per cent) were partially vaccinated with one dose, while 13 cases (13.3 per cent) were fully vaccinated.
• Of the 98 individuals admitted to ICU, three were 12-19 years and four were 11 years and younger.
• Among the cases reported in October, 78 individuals passed away; 53 were unvaccinated or less than three weeks after their first vaccination.

All vaccination and breakthrough data reports are available in the COVID-19 vaccination information at Saskatchewan.ca.

Note that this vaccination and breakthrough analysis for October is based on cases that were reported in October.  This methodology has consistently been utilized for all monthly vaccination and breakthrough reports.

Service Resumption Planning
On November 3, aggressive targets were established for returning health care staff who have been redeployed to their home positions by the end of November, resuming many community services impacted by the fourth wave.  Additional information on how these targets and the associated service resumptions by Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) service area is now available.

Supporting Contact Tracing 
The Government of Saskatchewan has approved measures to support COVID-19 case and contact management, enacting provisions within The Disease Control Regulations to allow non-licensed providers to complete public health case investigation processes under clinical supervision.  The order provides the SHA with the authority to supplement their workforce to complete non-clinical case, contact and outbreak investigation processes.

Negative Test Requirements Following a COVID-19 Infection
The public health order issued September 30 requires individuals show proof of vaccination or a negative test result in order to access designated venues and activities.  This is a requirement for everyone, including those who have recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection.

Vaccination remains the best long-term protection against COVID-19. Even if you have contracted COVID-19, you should be vaccinated as it provides superior and lasting protection compared to the immune response generated after infection alone.  The strength and longevity of natural immunity is not yet well established compared to vaccine immunity and the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in previously infected patients has been well established.

Individuals who have recently been infected with COVID-19 will still be required to provide proof of vaccination. For those who have fully recovered, rapid antigen testing providers should be the testing source for proof of a negative test result.

Although better at detecting COVID-19, PCR tests may produce false positive results in previously infected individuals for up to 90 days, post infection.  Rapid antigen tests are less likely to produce a false positive result following recovery from infection.

If you are symptomatic, stay home and arrange for a PCR test at an SHA testing site near you.  Self-isolate until you have received your test results and, if positive, follow the self-isolation requirements until the symptoms resolve.

If seeking negative test results for the purposes of travel, be aware of the requirements of the jurisdiction that you are travelling to.

COVID-19 Summary for November 9, 2021:

• From November 3 – 9, 18,244 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 1,688,992.
• As of November 9, 86 per cent of those 12+ have received their first dose and 80 per cent of those 12+ are fully vaccinated.
• There were 1,019 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan from November 3 – 9, bringing the provincial total to 78,910 cases. There were 1,398 recoveries recorded during the same period.
• The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan is currently 146 (12.1 per 100,000).
• Fifteen new deaths were reported November 3 – 9.
• There were 509 new lineage results reported for November 3 – 9.
• As of November 9, there are 193 people in hospital: 142 are receiving inpatient care and 51 are in intensive care. One hundred and twenty-eight of the people in hospital (66.3 per cent) are not fully vaccinated. In addition, 15 residents are in out-of-province ICU’s.
• Since October 22, 11 monoclonal antibody infusion treatments have been delivered.
• From November 3 – 9, there were 14,075 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan.

Daily provincial COVID-19 statistics by age, date and geographic zones including active cases, recoveries, confirmed variants of concern and vaccination information can be found at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-cases.