Saskatchewan Health Authority Service Resumption On Track

Released on November 16, 2021

On November 3, aggressive targets were established for returning redeployed health care staff to their home positions by the end of November.  As of November 12, 50 per cent of eligible Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) staff who were redeployed to address the COVID-19 case surge have returned to their home positions.  One hundred and twenty-nine of the 374 services slowed since September 1, 2021 have been fully resumed and 51 services have been partially resumed.

It remains the SHA's target to have 75 per cent of eligible, redeployed staff returned to their home positions by November 19.  A progress report on these targets and the associated service resumptions by Saskatchewan Health Authority service area is now available.

Adjustment to COVID-19 Cases

While there were 85 new, confirmed COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday, November 16,the provincial COVID-19 dashboard will note that 69 previously reported cases have been removed.  These had been reported as confirmed cases in error.

On November 15, it was determined that a number of positive PanBio (Antigen) test results downloaded into the provincial COVID database were automatically reported as 'confirmed positive'.  Upon further investigation, the majority of these cases had a PCR result that was negative.  The date of collection for these specimens range from June 27 to October 12, 2021.

Public Health Orders Will Be Enforced

The week of November 8, Saskatchewan Health Authority public health inspectors issued a number of fines:

• Two corporate fines of $14,000 were issued to A&W and Bluez on Second, both in Unity, for failure to screen for proof of vaccination or negative test.  An individual ticket of $2,800 was also issued at that time for failure to mask.
• Three individuals at the Oasis Roadhouse in Pangman were fined $2,800 each for failure to mask.
• A corporate fine of $14,000 was issued to Chicken Chef in Esterhazy for failure to screen for proof of vaccination or negative test.
• Two corporate fines of $14,000 were issued in North Battleford to two separate Tim Horton's locations for failure to screen for proof of vaccination or negative test.
• A ticket of $2,800 for failure to mask was issued to an individual in Outlook, relating to a complaint from September 20.

Note that under The Health Information and Privacy Act, the Ministry of Health cannot disclose the names of individuals who have received fines.

COVID-19 Summary for November 16, 2021:

• From November 10 - 16, 12,742 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 1,701,734.
• As of November 16, 87 per cent of those 12+ have received their first dose and 81 per cent of those 12+ are fully vaccinated.
• There were 769 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan from November 10 - 16, bringing the provincial total to 79,610 cases. There were 989 recoveries recorded during the same period.
• The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan is currently 110 (9.1 per 100,000).
• Twenty-three new deaths were reported November 10 - 16.
• There were 702 new lineage results reported for November 10 - 16.
• As of November 16, there are 171 people in hospital: 129 are receiving inpatient care and 42 are in intensive care. One hundred and eleven of the people in hospital (64.9 per cent) are not fully vaccinated.  In addition, 11 residents are in out-of-province ICU's.
• For the week of November 8-14, three monoclonal antibody infusion treatments were delivered for a total of 14.  The SHA is expanding treatment availability to Estevan, Turtleford, Nipawin, Prince Albert and Swift Current.
• From November 10 - 16, there were 11,076 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.

Stick it to COVID - Get Your Vaccination

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is holding vaccination clinics throughout the province.  Clinic locations and times are listed on the SHA website.   Any changes to clinic hours and location will be updated online.

A map of pharmacies participating in COVID-19 vaccinations is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-pharmacies. 

COVID-19 vaccinations are also available at most SHA operated flu shot clinics, so residents can receive both flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at the same time and location.  The COVID-19 vaccinations can be booked using the same online flu shot appointment tool (www.4flu.ca) or by telephone at 1-833-SASKVAX (1-833-727-5829).  If you need both a COVID and flu shot, only one appointment is needed.  Health staff are trained to offer both vaccines to those eligible.

General COVID-19 Information

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca