There are 60 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan Sunday, bringing the provincial total to 48,441 cases.

The new cases are located in the following zones: Far North West, 4; Far North East, 1; North West, 9; North Central, 4; Saskatoon, 27; Central West, 1; Regina, 9; South Central, 3; and South East, 2.

Four cases with pending residence information were assigned to the Far North East, 2; Far North West, 1; and South East, 1; zones.

One new death is being reported in the 70 to 79 age group from the North West zone.

Recoveries total 47,135 and 743 cases are considered active.

There are 79 people in hospital.  Sixty-seven are receiving inpatient care: Far North West, 1; North West, 9; North Central, 7; Saskatoon, 27; Central East, 2; Regina, 17; and South Central, 4.  Twelve people are in intensive care: North Central, 1; Saskatoon, 6; Central East, 1; and Regina, 4.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 case number is 69 (5.7 per 100,000).

With over 70 per cent of residents over the age of 18 having received their first dose, and 69 per cent of all residents over the age of 12 having received their first dose, Saskatchewan is announcing that the full implementation of Step 3 of the Re-Opening Roadmap will occur on Sunday, July 11.

That means that as of Sunday, July 11, all public health orders will be removed. This includes the removal of the province-wide mandatory masking order, and the removal of limits on events and gathering sizes.

“As we are now so close to the final threshold, we are able to announce that Step 3 will be fully implemented on Sunday, July 11,” Premier Scott Moe said.  “We are able to make this announcement because so many Saskatchewan residents have done their part by getting vaccinated, so I’d like to say thanks to Saskatchewan people.  Over the past 15 months, Saskatchewan residents have diligently followed public health guidelines and restrictions, and over the past months they have followed through by getting vaccinated.”

On Sunday, Saskatchewan entered Step Two of re-opening. In-person gathering limits increased across a number of sectors and for private gatherings.  Most notably, private indoor gatherings increased from 10 to 15 people.  Note that the provincial masking mandate remains in place under Step Two.

While masking and physical distancing requirements stay, there are no capacity limits for  restaurants and licensed establishments, grocery stores, public and farmers’ markets, clothing and retail stores, personal service facilities such as salons, and greenhouse and landscaping locations.

The capacity limits increased to 150 from 30 for patrons/spectators in sports and activities, arena facilities, libraries, movie and live theatre venues, performing arts venues, casinos and bingo halls, for temporary food vendors, racing, livestock sales and rodeos, banquets and conference facilities; car and trade shows.

All indoor facilities and activities and outdoor activities where two metres of physical distancing cannot be consistently maintained must continue to abide by physical distancing and masking requirements in Step Two.

Vaccines Reported

As of end of day Saturday, June 19, there were an additional 16,084 vaccinations administered in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 997,818.

The additional 16,084 doses of COVID-19 vaccine reported today were administered to residents living in the following zones: Far North West, 612; Far North Central, 10; Far North East, 165; North West, 736; North Central, 842; North East, 1,027; Saskatoon, 3,800; Central West, 612; Central East, 1,978; Regina, 2,770; South West, 465; South Central, 676; and South East, 1,827.  There were 564 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

Seventy-nine per cent of those over the age of 40+ have received their first dose.  Seventy-four per cent of those 30+ have received their first dose.  Seventy per cent of those 18+ have received their first dose, while sixty-nine per cent of those 12+ have also received their first dose.

Note: Age is calculated on the date of the most recent dose.  Someone age 69 at their first dose and 70 at their second will now be counted in the 70-79 group for both doses, resulting in a decrease in the 60-69 first dose number.

All vaccine administration details for the province, including first and second doses, can be found at https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness.

Second Dose Schedule 

Anyone who received their first dose on or before May 15 will be eligible for their second vaccine starting Monday, June 21.

Currently, all residents 12+ can receive their first dose and second dose vaccinations are open to residents 45+ or anyone who received their first dose on or before May 1.

Individuals diagnosed with or being treated for cancer and those who have received solid organ transplants will receive a letter of eligibility in the mail that will allow them priority access to a second dose.

Second doses are also available in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District to all residents 18+, based on the product’s recommended interval from their first dose.

Eligibility to book for second doses is based on age or date of first dose.  Residents who meet at least one of these criteria are eligible for their second dose.

When all persons 12 and older become eligible to receive their second doses starting June 24, 2nd doses can be completed any time after 28 days.  Because of increasing risk of Delta variant 2nd doses must be completed as soon as possible once eligible 28 days after your first dose.

A limited number of first doses of AstraZeneca have been administered since May 5 to those individuals who have contraindication for mRNA vaccines.  If you received AstraZeneca as recommended by your health care provider after May 5, arrangements will be made to administer your second dose based on current, recommended intervals.

Remember that while one dose of COVID-19 vaccine provides good protection against transmission, two doses are required for optimal protection, particularly against the Delta variant.  Please receive your second dose as soon as you are eligible and maintain all public health measures until at least two weeks after your second dose.

Vaccination appointments can be booked through the Saskatchewan Health Authority online at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19 or by calling 1-833-SaskVax (1-833-727-5829).

A map of participating pharmacies across the province is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-pharmacies.  This online tool includes links to pharmacy booking websites and provides details on the vaccine brand being offered at each location.

For street addresses and hours of operation for drive-thru and walk-in clinics, see www.saskatchewan.ca/drive-thru-vax.

As the SHA is encouraging first dose vaccinations, please review clinic information carefully to ensure you are selecting the right clinic for you.

Please do not call until you are eligible to book your vaccination appointment.  If you do not know the date of your first dose or have misplaced the wallet card provided at the time of your first dose, 1-833-SaskVax can provide you with that date, or check your Immunization History on your MySaskHealthRecord account.

There may be clinic options outside your community and residents are encouraged to consider those alternate locations for immunization.  Additional stops should be avoided if possible when travelling to another community for an appointment.  More clinics will be added as new vaccine shipments are received.

During your second-dose appointment, the clinic or pharmacy will validate the timing and brand of your first dose to ensure you are receiving your second dose within the recommended timeframe.  The type of vaccine available at each location will be advertised.  Additional information on how to book your appointment is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine-booking.

Residents may receive AstraZeneca as second dose

On June 17, the National Advisory Council on Immunization updated their statement on recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccine, including recommendations for those who received AstraZeneca as a first dose.  Saskatchewan will continue to allow residents the choice of receiving AstraZeneca as their second dose or an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer).  There are no first dose AstraZeneca clinics planned at this time; all AstraZeneca second dose clinics will be offered through the SHA and residents seeking AstraZeneca as their second dose can book those appointments as clinics are available.

All vaccines approved in Canada are very effective in preventing serious illness.  Individuals who have received two doses of any COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada will be considered fully vaccinated.

There were 1,384 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on June 19, 2021.

To date, 901,272 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan.  As of June 18, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 759,298 tests performed per million population.  The national rate was 949,997.

As of June 19, 11,955 variants of concern have been identified by screening in Saskatchewan, reported in the following zones: Far North West, 291; Far North Central, 1; Far North East, 82; North West, 775; North Central, 613; North East, 79; Saskatoon, 2,075; Central West, 144; Central East, 641; Regina, 4,772; South West, 400; South Central, 884; and South East, 1,127.  There are 71 screened VOCs with residence pending.

224 new lineage results were reported for Variants of Concern today.  Of the 6,814 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 6,417 are Alpha (B.1.1.7), 282 are Gamma (P.1), 105 are Delta (B.1.617.2) and 10 are Beta (B.1.351).

Confirmed variant of concern cases may appear in both columns on the website, depending on testing for that case.  Adding the cases identified by screening and those that have received whole genome sequencing may result in double-counting individual cases.

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, per capita testing rate and current numbers of confirmed variants of concern can be found at http://www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-cases.

Saskatchewan Roadmap to Reopening Step Two Now Underway

Beginning today, Saskatchewan has now entered Step Two of re-opening, with in-person gathering limits increasing across a number of sectors and for private gatherings.  Starting today, private indoor gatherings will increase from 10 to 15 people.  Note that the provincial masking mandate remains in place under Step Two.

More information on the changes within Step Two of the Roadmap to Re-Opening are available at www.saskatchewan.ca/re-open-roadmap

Guidance for individual sectors has been updated and is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/re-open

General COVID-19 Information

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

Know your risk.  Keep yourself and others safe www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-know-your-risk.