Written with files from Larissa McEwen

The Government of Saskatchewan utilizes the Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program (CRISP) to help keep track of sickness levels around Saskatchewan. The system can be used to spot trends, and paint an overall picture of the respiratory health in the province. 

Looking at statistics to end 2023 (Reporting Period December 3 - December 16, 2023), the Central West zone (Kindersley and area) reported the following:

  • 18.8% (9) -  Test positivity – SARS-CoV-2 1 (positive lab tests)
  • 23.2% (13) - Test positivity – Influenza (positive lab tests)
  • 1.9% (1) - Test positivity – RSV (positive lab tests)
  • 149.8  - RLI* visits to EDs per 1,000
  • 10.6% - School illness absenteeism
  • 7.6% - (<65 YRS) 
  • 48.2% - (>65 YRS)
  • ^ Proportion of population with COVID-19 vaccine administered
  • 15.0% - (<65)
  • 59.2% - (>65)
  • ^ Proportion of population with Influenza vaccine adminstered

Data for both wastewater indicators, and emergency visits to doctors was not available. Unity was the one west-central location to have a wastewater table, as you can see below.

Unity Wastewater.jpg 2023 data from Unity 

The CRISP report from December 16 stated that Influenza A was the most detected respiratory illness in the province accounting for 47 percent of hospitalizations from respiratory illnesses while COVID accounted for 37 per cent.

The next Saskatchewan-wide report is scheduled to be released January 5. Find the link to the statistics page here.