Death related to COVID-19 reported for second straight day in North Central

(File photo/Jayda Taylor)

Saskatchewan health officials reported a death related to COVID-19 in North Central, which includes Prince Albert, for the second consecutive day on Thursday.

The death was in the 70 to 79 age group.

This was among five deaths reported Thursday, the others were in the 70 to 79 and 60 to 69 age group in the Far North East and in the 80 plus age group in the North West and Regina zones.

The number of deaths in Saskatchewan related to COVID-19 has risen to 513.

On Thursday there were 12 new cases reported in North Central.

In the province there was a total of 223 new cases reported. Saskatoon led the province with 71 new cases reported.

North Central 2, which is Prince Albert, has 66 active cases. North Central 1, which includes communities such as Christopher Lake, Candle Lake and Meath Park, has 43 active cases and North Central 3 has 50 active cases.

There are currently 161 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the province. Of the 126 reported as receiving in patient care, there are four in North Central. Of the 35 people reported as being in intensive care, there is one in North Central.

The current seven-day average for new cases is 212, or 17.3 cases per 100,000 population. Of the 43,926 reported COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan, 2,064 are considered active.

Another 233 recoveries were reported on Thursday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 41,381.

Since the start of the pandemic, 9,654 cases are from the North area (4,136 North West, 4,016 North Central and 1,502 North East).

There were 3,415 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on May 12.

As of today there have been 812,142 COVID-19 tests performed in Saskatchewan.

There were 8,415 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Saskatchewan bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 545,459.

There were 427 doses administered in the North Central Zone reported on Thursday. 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 282 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

According to the province, 72 per cent of residents over the age of 40, 62 per cent of those 30 plus and 53 per cent of those 18 plus have received their first dose.

Eligibility in the provincial age-based immunization program is currently age 26 and older. Effective at 8 a.m. May 14, eligibility will expand to age 23 and older. It remains age 18 and older for the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District. This applies to all immunization clinics: booked appointments, drive-thru/walk-ins, pharmacies and mobile clinics.

261 variants of concern identified in North Central

There are now 261 confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases identified by the province in the North Central zone, as of May 12.

This was among 8,782 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 142 cases with area of residency pending.

There are now 52 VOCs identified in the adjacent North East.

Regina led the province with 4,299 identified VOCs.

There were 107 new lineage results reported today. Of the 4,299 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 3,606 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), nine are B.1.351 (SA) and 53 are P.1. (Brazilian).

74 active cases of COVID-19 in youth in North Central

On Thursday the province released the updated numbers on COVID-19 cases in youth. The total active cases in youth provincially in all locations are 658. Eight have no known location and 650 have a location reported.

The province releases the update on the numbers each Thursday.

Currently in the North Central zone, which includes Prince Albert, there are 74 active cases in youth. Last week there were 393 tests performed across the North Central zone.

North Central 2, which is Prince Albert, has 28 active cases in youth.

North Central 1, which includes communities such as Christopher Lake, Candle Lake and Meath Park, has 16 active cases and North Central 3 has 30 active cases.

Cumulative tests performed since Sept. 7, 2020 in the North Central zone is 8,098

Provincially there is an 7.6 per cent test positivity rate in youth.

There were 5,405 tests performed in total in the province in the last week.

The cumulative number of tests performed since Sept. 7, 2020 is 123,753.

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