by: zak vescera
most saskatchewan residents who are in hospital with covid-19 were not formally diagnosed until they were admitted. a top doctor worries this could be a symptom of people not seeking testing.
dr. susan shaw, the saskatchewan health authority’s medical health officer, said 55 per cent of people admitted to hospital with the virus in september had not been diagnosed before admission.
“i’ve never seen people show up so sick, so late,” shaw said.
saskatchewan is seeing a record number of people admitted to hospital with the virus, many critically sick. on wednesday, the ministry of health reported 76 patients were in intensive care.
there were only 79 icu beds in saskatchewan prior to covid-19, but the saskatchewan health authority has boosted capacity at the cost of cancelling thousands of other surgeries and services.
shaw said there’s no clear reason why so many covid-19 patients are presenting so late, but she worries patients fear what a positive diagnosis may mean.
“i think people are scared. there’s also a stigma. i’ve heard anecdotally … that in some towns and some communities, you’re not supposed to get tested, and i don’t understand that at all,” she said.