The final COVID patient receiving care in Ontario has returned home to Saskatchewan.

Health Minister Paul Merriman thanked the Ontario government, as well as doctors and health care professionals for taking care of the 27 Saskatchewan ICU patients.

They were flown to Ontario to ease the bed crunch in provincial intensive care units during the fourth wave of COVID this fall.

The provincial Ministry of Health has also released the November monthly COVID statistics.

Of the 3,361 cases reported last month, just under 60 percent were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of getting their first shot.
Additional statistics for November are listed below:

Based on the COVID-19 Vaccination and Breakthrough Infections report for the month of November, the rate of hospitalization was 35/100,000 cases for those who were unvaccinated versus 6/100,000 for those fully vaccinated.  The rate for ICU admissions was 8/100,000 for the unvaccinated versus 2/100,000 for the fully vaccinated.  The rate for COVID-19 deaths was 5/100,000 for the unvaccinated versus 1/100,000 for the fully vaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccine is not a cure.  It will not prevent every COVID-19 transmission.  It will reduce the risk of transmission and, when transmission occurs, reduce the risk of serious illness and death.

The Ministry of Health has updated the COVID-19 vaccination and breakthrough information for November 1-30.  Highlights include:

• Of the 3,361 cases reported in November, 2,004 (59.6 per cent) were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination.  One hundred and fifty cases (4.5 per cent) were partially vaccinated with one dose, while 1,207 cases (35.9 per cent) were fully vaccinated.  Of the 1,207 cases with a second dose, 19.9 per cent (240) had comorbid conditions and 15.9 per cent (192) were 65 years and older.
• Of the 173 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, 116 (67.1 per cent) were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination.  Eight cases (4.6 per cent) were partially vaccinated with one dose, while 49 cases (28.3 per cent) were fully vaccinated.
• Of the 173 cases reported in November who were hospitalized, four were 12-19 years and younger and 10 were 11 years and younger.
• Of the 43 individuals admitted to ICU, 27 (62.8 per cent) were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination.  One case (2.3 per cent) was partially vaccinated with one dose, while 15 cases (34.9 per cent) were fully vaccinated.
• Of the 43 individuals admitted to ICU, one was 12-19 years, and one was 11 years and younger.
• Among the cases reported in November, 26 individuals passed away; 15 were unvaccinated or less than three weeks after their first vaccination.