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
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.