The 2023 calendar year started with an increase in COVID-19 and R-S-V cases, then quickly decreased.

The first Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program (CRISP) Situation Report of 2023 – for the two-week period of January 1-14 – showed that COVID-19 confirmed cases decreased from 371 in the first week of January to 317 in the second week. Test positivity decreased from 6.9 per cent to 5.4 per cent, week-over-week. As for R-S-V cases, they decreased from 199 to 159 positive lab tests. The highest respiratory virus test positivity of 14.5 per cent, mainly in pre-school age children. The report adds that the majority of respiratory virus hospitalizations in Saskatchewan continue to be COVID-19, followed by R-S-V. As well, influenza activity in the province continues to decrease.