Saskatchewan health officials reported six new deaths related to COVID-19 on Friday.
There were four deaths in the Regina zone, one in the 80 plus age group, two in the 70 to 79 age group and one in the 40 to 49 age group. There was also one death each in the Saskatoon and South East zones, both of which were in the 70 to 79 age group.
The number of deaths related to COVID-19 has risen to 453.
On Friday there were 14 cases reported in North Central, which includes Prince Albert.
This was among a total of 358 cases reported in the province. Regina led the province with 108 new cases reported.
North Central 2, which is Prince Albert, has 36 active cases. North Central 1, which includes communities such as Christopher Lake, Candle Lake and Meath Park, has 14 active cases and North Central 3 has 12 active cases.
There are currently 206 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the province. Of the 163 reported as receiving in patient care, there are three in North Central. Of the 43 people reported as being in intensive care, there are five in North Central.
The current seven-day average for new cases is 242, or 19.7 cases per 100,000 population. Of the 35,748 reported COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan, 2,337 are considered active. Another 160 recoveries were reported on Friday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 32,958.
Since the start of the pandemic, 8,311 cases are from the North area (3,391 North West, 3,554 North Central and 1,366 North East).
There were 3,914 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on April 8.
As of today there have been 697,515 COVID-19 tests performed in Saskatchewan.
There were 11,634 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Saskatchewan bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 256,280. This was the highest one day total for vaccines administered.
There were 987 doses administered in the North Central Zone reported on Friday. Doses were also administered in the adjacent North East, North West, Far North West, Far North East, Far North Central, Central East, Central West, South Central, South East, South West, South Central, Regina and Saskatoon.
There were 291 doses administered with zone of residence pending.
Effective Friday, Saskatchewan’s vaccine booking system eligibility is expanded to all individuals 55 years of age and older. Eligible residents ages 55 plus can book their appointment online or by phone.
24 variants of concern identified in North Central
There are now 24 confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases identified by the province in the North Central zone, which includes Prince Albert, as of April 8.
This was among 3,086 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 19 cases with area of residency pending.
Regina led the province with 2,189 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 802 (84 per cent) of the VOC cases with confirmed lineage reported in Saskatchewan.
