Saskatchewan health officials reported one new death related to COVID-19 in North Central, which includes Prince Albert, on Tuesday.
The death was reported in the 60 to 69 age group. There were two other deaths reported by the province on Tuesday in the Regina zone, one in the 70 to 79 age group and one in the 80 plus age group.
The number of deaths related to COVID-19 has risen to 443.
On Tuesday there were three cases reported in North Central.
This was among a total of 217 cases reported in the province. Regina led the province with 97 new cases reported.
North Central 2, which is Prince Albert, has 31 active cases. North Central 1, which includes communities such as Christopher Lake, Candle Lake and Meath Park, has 20 active cases and North Central 3 has 18 active cases.
There are currently 202 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the province. Of the 158 reported as receiving in patient care, there are two in North Central. Of the 44 people reported as being in intensive care, there are four in North Central.
The current seven-day average for new cases is 226, or 18.4 cases per 100,000 population. Of the 34,980 reported COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan, 2,195 are considered active. Another 221 recoveries were reported on Tuesday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 32,342 .
Since the start of the pandemic, 8,221 cases are from the North area (3,334 North West, 3,533 North Central and 1,354 North East).
There were 2,924 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on April 5.
As of today there have been 687,328 COVID-19 tests performed in Saskatchewan.
There were 5,938 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Saskatchewan bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 227,471.
There were 349 doses administered in the North Central Zone reported on Monday. Doses were also administered in the adjacent North East, North West, Far North West, Far North East, Central East, Central West, South Central, South East, South West, South Central, Regina and Saskatoon.
There were 103 doses administered with zone of residence pending.
On Monday the Ministry of Health launched a new dashboard with details on vaccine administration in the province, including first and second doses administered by age range. Data was not delivered Sunday to assist in the dashboard’s launch.
According to the province, as of Tuesday, one out of every 10 Saskatchewan residents in their 50s, one-third of Saskatchewan residents in their 60s and more than two-thirds of Saskatchewan residents in their 70s have now received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccine appointment booking system currently includes residents 58 years of age and older. Eligible residents are encouraged to book their COVID-19 vaccinations online or by phone.
18 variants of concern identified in North Central
There are still 18 confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases identified by the province in the North Central zone, which includes Prince Albert, on April 5. This number has been consistent since Saturday.
This was among 2,677 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 68 cases with area of residency pending.
Regina led the province with 1,898 identified VOCs.
These have previously been reported as “presumptive positives” but all screening tests will be considered confirmed VOCs for the purposes of public reporting and contact investigations.
There were no new lineage results reported today. Of the 951 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 943 are B1.1.1.7 (UK) and eight are B1.351 (SA).
The Regina zone accounts for 803 (84 per cent) of the VOC cases with confirmed lineage reported in Saskatchewan.
