COVID-19 in Sask: 289 new cases, 205 recoveries, one death

After a delay for processing reassigned and unassigned cases, Saskatchewan reported 289 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, and one more death due to illness linked to the novel coronavirus.

As of Saturday, 4,664 of the more transmissible variants of the coronavirushave been identified in Saskatchewan over half of which have been in the Regina area. However, the central east, south west, south central and southeast zones, as well as Saskatoon, have all seen over 100 variant cases as well.

Of the 38,160 known COVID-19 cases to date in the province, 2,742 are considered active.

The seven-day average of daily new cases in Saskatchewan is 261 21.3 new cases per 100,000 population.

The new cases Sunday are in the following provincial zones:

• Far northwest: nine.
• Far northeast: two.
• Northwest: 21.
• North central: 12.
• Northeast: two.
• Saskatoon: 32.
• Central west: seven.
• Central east: 26.
• Regina: 106.
• Southwest: six.
• South central: 15.
• Southeast: 41.

Ten new cases have pending residence information.

There are currently 189 people in hospital in the province due to COVID-19, including 45 in intensive care. 30 people are in intensive care in Regina.

The province also reported 205 new recoveries. There have been 34,953 known recoveries in total as of Sunday.

To date, 728,491 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan, 3,623 of which were processed on Saturday.

Upcoming vaccine shipment reduced

11,063 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the province on Saturday. The total number of vaccines given in the province has now reached 345,126, and nearly half of Saskatchewan residents over the age of 40 have received their first dose. Those 48 and older can now book their vaccine appointment online or over the phone.

Drive-thru and walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics are now open to people aged 48-54. However, Regina's drive-thru clinic has used up its supply of vaccine for now, and is temporarily closed. The government does not expect it to reopen until May 2.

The Ministry of Health has also said that a shipment of Moderna vaccines expected to arrive on April 26 has been reduced by 47 per cent. The Ministry says it is working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Indigenous Services Canada to mitigate the impact of this reduction on booked appointments and other vaccination availability.