The first doses of the Moderna vaccine have arrived in Saskatchewan with the nearly 5,000 doses heading to northern Saskatchewan. Health Minister Paul Merriman says those receiving the vaccine first will be residents and staff at long-term care homes along with other priority healthcare workers.

While Merriman says the vaccination program has been going well so far, the number received has still been small but larger shipments are on their way. Merriman says they are trying to get a clear indication from the federal government the number of vaccines to be sent weekly, to more effectively plan the next steps in the distribution process.

Despite the fact that the amount of people being tested in Saskatchewan has not been as high as what you might see because of the holidays, Merriman is encouraged by the low numbers being shown saying this shows the restrictions we were put under that made for a different Christmas are working. The active case count is back below 3,000. It has not been below that mark since November 24. (CKRM)