The daily number of new COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan rose back above 300 for the first time in four weeks, according to Thursday’s update from the Ministry of Health. The 334 new cases came from 2,548 processed tests for the novel coronavirus. In addition, three more people died due to COVID-19, bringing Saskatchewan’s death toll to 177. Two people in their 80s have passed because of the virus…one in the North Central zone and the other in Regina while the other fatality was a person in their 70s from Regina.

       There were 278 new recoveries from COVID-19 reported Thursday in Saskatchewan, leaving the active case count at 2,947…176 of those infections in hospital with 29 individuals in an I-C-U. Of the new cases…83 are from Saskatoon, 65 from the North Central zone, 49 from Regina, 33 from the South East zone with 27 new cases requiring residence information. All 13 provincial zones recorded at least one new case of the novel coronavirus Thursday.

       In addition, another 308 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered while immunizations for eligible health care staff, as well as long term and personal care home residents, began Thursday morning in Prince Albert.

As of January 7, a total of 4,832 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Saskatchewan.  This includes 2,069 Pfizer doses in the Regina pilot program and 233 second doses, now being administered; 2,407 Pfizer doses in Saskatoon; and 123 Moderna doses in the Far North West zone.

Immunizations for eligible health care staff, as well as long term and personal care home residents, began this morning in Prince Albert.  Testing and assessment physician Dr. Romashnee Moodlia and Herb Bassett Home long term care residents Muriel Sheldon and Dennis McCallum were among the first to receive the Pfizer vaccine.  Prince Albert has now received 3,900 Pfizer doses, which will all be used as first doses.  The Saskatchewan Health Authority will communicate clinic information to eligible staff and facilities.

An update on the COIVD-19 vaccination roll-out can be found at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine.

Note that an additional 100 Moderna doses have been allocated to Saskatchewan, increasing the February 1 delivery to 5,400 doses.  February allocations for the Pfizer vaccine have been confirmed at 11,700 arriving each week.

To date, 442,063 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan.  As of January 5, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 262,308 people tested per million population.  The national rate was 378,928 people tested per million population.

Further statistics on the total number of cases among health care workers, breakdowns of total cases by source of infection, age, sex and region, total tests to date and the per capita testing rate can be found on the Government of Saskatchewan website.  Please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/cases-and-risk-of-covid-19-in-saskatchewan.

The seven-day average of daily new cases is 254 (20.9 new cases per 100,000 population) and is now available on the Government of Saskatchewan website.  This chart compares today’s average to data collected over the past several months.  Please visit https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness/covid-19/seven-day-average-of-new-covid-cases.

Expansion to Drive-thru Testing Site

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is expanding drive-thru testing hours in Yorkton.  Effective immediately, the Yorkton site will have expanded hours, opening each day at 10:30 a.m., rather than the previous opening of 1 p.m.  More information can be found at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/testing-information.