Saskatchewan health officials reported one death in North Central, which includes Prince Albert, on Monday.
The death was in the 80 plus age group.
This was among three deaths total reported Monday. The others were in the 80 plus age group in Saskatoon and in the 70 to 79 age group in Regina.
The number of deaths in Saskatchewan related to COVID-19 has risen to 498.
On Monday there were 31 new cases reported in North Central.
In the province there was a total of 207 new cases reported. Regina led the province with 64 new cases reported.
North Central 2, which is Prince Albert, has 69 active cases. North Central 1, which includes communities such as Christopher Lake, Candle Lake and Meath Park, has 23 active cases and North Central 3 has 72 active cases.
Two cases pending residence information have been assigned to the North Central zone.
There are currently 174 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the province. Of the 135 reported as receiving in patient care, there are three in North Central. Of the 39 people reported as being in intensive care, there is one in North Central.
The current seven-day average for new cases is 230, or 18.8 cases per 100,000 population. Of the 41,806 reported COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan, 38,911 are considered active.
Another 244 recoveries were reported on Monday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 38,414.
Since the start of the pandemic, 9,214 cases are from the North area (3,908 North West, 3,852 North Central and 1,454 North East).
There were 3,358 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on May 2.
As of today there have been 780,355 COVID-19 tests performed in Saskatchewan.
There were 7,154 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Saskatchewan bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 450,823.
There were 562 doses administered in the North Central Zone reported on Friday. Doses were also administered in the adjacent North East, North West, Far North Central, Far North East, Far North Central, Central West, Central East, South Central, South East, South West, Regina and Saskatoon.
There were 206 doses administered with zone of residence pending.
According to the province, 81 per cent of residents over the age of 60, 60 per cent of those 40 plus and 43 per cent of those 18 plus have received their first dose.
This week’s Pfizer shipment of 63,180 doses is expected at designated pharmacies on Tuesday, May 4; ISC, NITHA, Prince Albert, Yorkton, North Battleford on Wednesday, May 5 and ISC’s South Service Centre on Thursday, May 6. A portion of this shipment arrived in Regina (11,700) and Saskatoon (11,700) on Friday, April 30 via advance delivery
After it was announced late Friday last week, distribution of the Janssen vaccines are on hold until Health Canada approves the product through the regulatory process.
Beginning May 4, eligibility in the provincial age-based immunization program will expand to include age 37 plus, and to age 18 plus for the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.
This applies to all immunization clinics including booked appointments, drive-thru/walk-ins, pharmacies and mobile clinics.
148 variants of concern identified in North Central
There are now 148 confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases identified by the province in the North Central zone, as of May 2.
This was among 7,296 variants of concern identified by screening in Saskatchewan to date. Other regions with identified cases included Regina, Saskatoon, Far North East, Central West, Central East, South West, South Central and South East. There are currently 106 cases with area of residency pending.
There are now 29 VOCs identified in the adjacent North East.
Regina led the province with 3,878 identified VOCs.
There were no new lineage results reported today. Of the 2,522 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 2,491 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), nine are B.1.351 (SA) and 22 are P.1. (Brazilian).
The Regina zone accounts for 1,662 (66 per cent) of the VOC cases with confirmed lineage reported in Saskatchewan.
