Saskatchewan's ICU rate higher than Ontario's during COVID-19 peak, doctor says
An Ontario-based intensive care physician says Saskatchewan's current COVID-19 ICU admission rate is worse than when cases peaked in his own province.
In an interview with CTV News on Monday, Dr. Michael Warner said when adjusted for population, Saskatchewan's ICU rates are higher than Ontario's at the crest of its third wave.
According to Warner, there were 891 COVID-19 ICU patients in Ontario at the peak of its third wave. Saskatchewan's 85 ICU patients would translate to 1075 in Ontario terms.
On Monday, Premier Scott Moe announced six ICU patients would be sent to Ontario to help relieve pressure in the province's ICU units buckling under record-high admissions.
Warner said the move will help, although he said bringing health-care staff into the province would be more ideal.
"It's a smaller population base so moving six patients will definitely help," Warner said.
Warner said limits on gathering sizes — which Ontario still has in place — would make a "big difference."
"There are large pockets of unvaccinated people in Saskatchewan, where COVID is likely spreading like wildfire," Warner said.
'LEADERSHIP MATTERS'
The Ontario physician said he also believes political leaders can play an important role in ensuring the danger posed by the current COVID-19 surge is made clear.
"I think leadership matters, we need to hear from provincial leaders, (that) the situation is serious, not to scare people but so that they can adjust their behaviour accordingly," Warner said.
He said he believes it helped when Ontario premier Doug Ford "told the truth to the people of Ontario about how bad the situation was" during the province’s third and most severe wave of coronavirus infections.
"We don't want COVID to last forever, but we need to acknowledge how bad things are in Saskatchewan so people can adjust their behavior accordingly so we can get through this with fewer lives lost."
Correction
A previous version of this article stated Warner was comparing overall hospitalization rates rather than intensive care admissions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Australian police arrest 7 alleged teen extremists linked to stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church
Australian police arrested seven teenagers accused of following a violent extremist ideology in raids across Sydney on Wednesday, as a judge extended a ban on social media platform X sharing video of a knife attack on a bishop that started the criminal investigation.