COVID-19 in Sask.: As ICU numbers spike, province sees 3rd-deadliest day of pandemic

Saskatchewan health officials reported 12 new COVID-19-related deaths on Friday, making it the third-deadliest day the province has seen since the start of the pandemic.

The Regina and northwest zones each saw four deaths, while the Saskatoon, southwest, southeast and south central regions posted one each.

The number ofpatients in intensive care with the illness also climbedon Friday, increasing to 80 from 76 the day before.

As of 1:30 p.m. Friday, six ICU patients had been transferred to Ontario, the province said.

Health officials also listed another 228 people with COVID-19 as receiving inpatient care, according to the province's online dashboard.

Out of the 308 people hospitalized with the illness in Saskatchewan Friday, 73 per cent were not fully vaccinated, the province said.

Another 300 COVID-19 cases were also reported Friday roughly one-third of them in kids 11 and under, according to thedashboard.

The Saskatoon area saw the most new positive tests, at 78, followed by the southeast region (which includesWeyburn and Estevan)at 43and the Regina zone at 38.

Other COVID-19 cases per region:

• East central: 32.
• Northwest: 25.
• Far northeast: 20.
• North central: 16.
• South central: 12.
• Northeast: six.
• West central: five.
• Far northwest: three.

Residence information was pending for22 cases.

There were 3,135 COVID-19 cases considered active in Saskatchewan, as of Friday.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases sat at 312 per day, or25.9 new cases per 100,000 people.

Health officials also said Fridayanother 4,216 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered. Roughly 78 per cent of people eligible for vaccination (those 12 and older) in the province are now fully vaccinated, according to CBC's vaccination tracker.