COVID-19 in Sask.: 470 new cases and 5 more deaths

Saskatchewan reportedfive more COVID-19 related deaths and another increase in hospitalization numbers on Friday.

PeopleinSaskatchewan are dying fromCOVID-19 at a higher rate than in any other province in the country.

As of Wednesday, Saskatchewan's rate of COVID-19 deaths for the last 14 days was at 4.8 per 100,000 people, according to the Canadian government, followed by Alberta (4.6) and First Nations reserves (2.9).

Across the country, only the Northwest Territories reported a higher rate of deaths for the last 14 days, at 11.1 per 100,000 population.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 700 people with COVID-19 in Saskatchewan are known to have died.

According to the province, three of the new deaths were in the 60 to 79 age group, and two of the people were 80or older.

Hospitalization numbers went up for the third day in a row, to 313from 307.

Among those in hospital, 74.1 per cent were not fully vaccinated, according to the province's dashboard.

As of Friday, 68 of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients were in Saskatchewan's intensive care units (ICU).

The province also reported 470 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. That number is down from Thursday's record of 601.

Just under one-third of the new recorded cases, or 32.8 per cent, were in the 20 to 39 age category, according to the province's dashboard.

Of the new cases among people age 12 and older,17.1 per centwere in fully vaccinated people.

Friday's new cases are located in the following zones:

• Far northwest, 18.

• Far north central: one.

• Far northeast, 11.

• Northwest, 44.

• North central, 48.

• Northeast, 17.

• Saskatoon, 85.

• Central west, 12.

• Central east, 32.

• Regina, 83.

• Southwest, 23.

• South central, 33.

• Southeast, 37.

Residence information is pending for 26 other new cases.

Eighty-four new cases were among children 11or younger.

As of Friday, 4,770 cases were considered active in Saskatchewan, with Saskatoon having the most known cases (1,140), followed by the northwest region (653) and Regina (610).

On Thursday, Saskatchewan healthworkers administered5,574 new COVID-19 shots. Of those, 3,144 people were receiving their first dose and2,430 their second.

Overall,736,590 Saskatchewan residents are now fully vaccinated, according to the province.