Saskatchewan health officials reported Sunday that a record number of doses of COVID-19 were administered on Saturday.
There were 18,995 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Saskatchewan bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 590,952.
The province attributed the record number largely to the expanded capacity resulting from an increased involvement of pharmacies in the COVID-19 vaccination program.
There were 960 doses administered in the North Central Zone reported on Saturday. 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 490 doses administered with zone of residence pending.
According to the province, 74 per cent of residents over the age of 40, 66 per cent of those 30 plus and 57 per cent of those 18 plus have received their first dose.
Eligibility in the provincial age-based immunization program is currently age 20 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.
Saskatchewan health officials also reported one death related to COVID-19 on Sunday.
The death was in the 80 plus age group and in the Saskatoon zone.
The number of deaths in Saskatchewan related to COVID-19 has risen to 517.
On Sunday there were 16 new cases reported in North Central, which included Prince Albert.
In the province there was a total of 196 new cases reported. Saskatoon led the province with 54 new cases reported.
North Central 2, which is Prince Albert, has 76 active cases. North Central 1, which includes communities such as Christopher Lake, Candle Lake and Meath Park, has 40 active cases and North Central 3 has 48 active cases.
There are currently 137 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the province. Of the 113 reported as receiving in patient care, there are five in North Central. Of the 24 people reported as being in intensive care, there is one in North Central.
The current seven-day average for new cases is 191, or 15.7 cases per 100,000 population. Of the 44,531 reported COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan, 2,082 are considered active.
Another 2156 recoveries were reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 41,932.
Since the start of the pandemic, 9,788 cases are from the North area (4,198 North West, 4,078 North Central and1,512 North East)
There were 2,827 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on May 15.
As of today there have been 822,565 COVID-19 tests performed in Saskatchewan.
283 variants of concern identified in North Central
There are now 283 confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases identified by the province in the North Central zone, as of May 15.
This was among 9,215 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 152 cases with area of residency pending.
There are now 54 VOCs identified in the adjacent North East.
Regina led the province with 4,348 identified VOCs.
There were no new lineage results reported today. Of the 4,443 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 4,341 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), 10 are B.1.351 (SA), 87 are P.1. (Brazilian) and five are B.1.617 (Indian).
The B.1.617 (Indian) was identified in North Central on Friday.
