Five more Saskatchewan residents who contracted COVID-19 have died.
The province announced the five deaths in its daily update Tuesday. There were also 80 new cases and 253 recoveries.
One death was reported in the 60-69 age group in the far north west. The remaining deaths were from residents in the 80-plus age group, including one from the north central.
The North Central had seven new cases Tuesday. Prince Albert has 71 active cases of the virus.
Monday saw 1,910 tests processed.
The seven-day average of daily new cases is 203, or 16.5 per 100,000 population.
There are 206 people in the hospital, including 18- receiving inpatient care and 26 in the ICU.
There were 1,252 vaccine doses administered Tuesday, including 72 in the north central zone.
So far, there have been 44,521 vaccine doses administered, including 9,075 second doses. The North Central has seen 4,404 first doses given and 1,828 second doses administered.
There have yet to be any vaccines delivered in either the south west or south central zones.
Also Tuesday, the federal government announced a regulatory change for the Pfizer vaccine from five doses per vial to six. While this week’s shipment is counted as five doses per vial, all shipment starting next week will count as six.
In a press release Tuesday, officials said Saskatchewan has been able to draw a sixth dose about 20 per cent of the time, but once new syringes arrive, that sixth dose will be more reliable.
To date, whether five doses or six have been drawn has been dependent on several factors, including the skill and experience of the person conducting the vaccination.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is currently examining the impact the new declaration of six doses per vial will have on vaccine distribution plans.
