Saskatchewan health officials reported three new deaths related to COVID-19 on Saturday.
Two deaths were in the 80 plus age group in the North West zone. The other death was in the Saskatoon zone and in the 60 to 69 age group.
The number of deaths related to COVID-19 has risen to 546.
The province also reported eight new cases of COVID-19 in North Central, which includes Prince Albert, on Saturday.
This was among a total of 99 cases reported in the province. Saskatoon led the province with 16 cases reported.
North Central 2, which is Prince Albert, has 55 active cases. North Central 1, which includes communities such as Christopher Lake, Candle Lake and Meath Park, has 46 active cases and North Central 3 has 22 active cases.
One previously reported case has been added to the North Central total.
There are currently 98 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the province. Of the 79 reported as receiving in patient care, five are in North Central. Of the 19 people reported as being in intensive care, one is in North Central.
The province also reported two out-of-province transfers from Manitoba in the ICU numbers.
The current seven-day average for new cases is 117, or 9.6 cases per 100,000 population. Of the 47,285 reported COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan 1,241 are considered active.
Another 147 recoveries were reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 45,498.
Since the start of the pandemic, 10,391 cases are from the North area (4,492 North West, 4,333 North Central and 1,566 North East.
There were 2,021 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan yesterday. As of June 4, there have been 872,710 COVID-19 tests performed in Saskatchewan.
There were 16,667 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Saskatchewan bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 770,463.
There were 1,017 doses administered in the North Central Zone reported on Thursday. Doses were also administered in the adjacent North East, North West, Far North East, Far North West, Central West, Central East, South West, South East, South Central, Regina and Saskatoon.
There were 240 doses administered with zone of residence information pending,
According to the province, 78 percent of residents over the age of 40 have received their first dose, 72 percent of those 30 plus have received their first dose, 67 per cent of those 18 plus have received their first dose and 64 per cent of those 12 plus have received their first dose.
All residents 12 plus can receive their first dose. Second dose vaccinations are open to residents 65 plus or anyone who received their first dose before March 22, 2021. Individuals diagnosed with or being treated for cancer and those who have received solid organ transplants will receive a letter of eligibility in the mail that will allow them priority access to a second dose.
Eligibility to book for second doses is based on age or date of first dose. Residents who meet at least one of these criteria are eligible for their second dose. The following table is a tentative guideline for those who received Pfizer or Moderna for their first dose; timelines may change due to vaccine availability.
513 total variants of concern identified in North Central
There are now 513 confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases identified by the province in the North Central zone as of June 4.
This was among 11,216 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 69 cases with area of residency pending.
There are now 68 variants identified in the adjacent North East zone.
Regina led the province with 4,690 identified VOCs.
There were 108 new lineage results reported today. Of the 5,987 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 5,753 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), 10 are B.1.351 (SA) and 187 are P.1. (Brazilian) and 37 are B.1.617 (Indian).
