Saskatchewan COVID-19 testing numbers drop with ICUs overcrowded
Global News
Nearly half of Saskatchewan people being hospitalized for COVID-19 are only getting tested for the first time when they enter a hospital, or shortly afterwards, and not before.
Saskatchewan ICU admissions and death toll continue to rise while the number of people getting tested for COVID-19 is dropping.
Meanwhile, nearly half of the people being admitted to hospital for treatment for the virus are only tested for the first time when they arrive for care or shortly afterwards, not before.
That’s according to a presentation from the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) on Wednesday.
Saskatchewan’s test positivity stands was 12.8 as of Oct. 17. That’s four times the national average and the highest in the country. And according to the Government of Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 dashboard, tests have decreased 46.5 per cent between Sept. 19 and Oct. 19.
At the end of September, Premier Scott Moe announced Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) staff would no longer test asymptomatic people who weren’t in close contact with someone with COVID-19, who weren’t caught in an outbreak recently, who hadn’t had a recent positive antigen test result or requires a transfer or who don’t require admission to a long-term care home, primary care, social services or ICU.
A University of Saskatchewan epidemiologist said the changes are likely driving up the test positivity rate, since the province is testing fewer asymptomatic people who would test positive while biasing toward people who will test positive.
Nazeem Muhajarine also said the new testing practices are likely missing people who need to be tested.
“We are likely missing people who are positive but asymptomatic,” he told Global News, adding that some people may just not feel like getting tested.