Saskatchewan has recorded a single-day high for new deaths due to COVID-19 with 13 in Thursday’s update from the Ministry of Health. Eight of the fatalities are from Saskatoon…one person in their 60s, another in their 70s and the other six people in their 80s. Two other people in their 70s passed away because of the novel coronavirus…one each from the Far North Central and North Central zones…while people in their 80s from each of the Far North East, North Central and the South East zones. In total, 239 individuals have perished because of COVID-19 in the province.

       Otherwise, for the second straight day, new recoveries far out-numbered new positive cases of the virus in Saskatchewan. The number of active cases dropped by almost 600 Thursday to 3,099 with 816 people recovering compared to 227 new cases. The active case number is at its lowest figure since January 8 while the new case number for Thursday was the lowest for a single-day since January 5. After no data was provided Wednesday, Thursday’s update had 197 infections being treated in hospital with 31 of those in an I-C-U.

       As for vaccinations, there were 2,548 administered Wednesday in eight zones for a provincial total of 29,781.

There are 227 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on January 21, 2021, bringing the provincial total to date to 21,338 cases.

Thirteen Saskatchewan residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have died.  One reported death in the 60-69 age group from Saskatoon; three reported deaths in the 70-79 age group in the Far North Central, North Central, and Saskatoon zones; and nine reported deaths in the 80+ age group in the Far North East (1), North Central (1), South East (1) and Saskatoon (6) zones.

The new cases are located in the Far North West (14), Far North Central (6), Far North East (7), North West (18), North Central (21), North East (11), Saskatoon (62), Central West (4), Central East (12), Regina (50), South West (2), South Central (4) and South East (12) zones and four (4) new cases have pending residence information.

Two cases with pending residence information were assigned to the North West (1) and Regina (1) zones.  Note that one previously reported case was deemed to be invalid and removed from the Central East zone count.

A total of 18,000 individuals have recovered and 3,099 cases are considered active.

One hundred and ninety-seven people are in hospital.  One hundred and sixty-six people are receiving inpatient care: Far North West (6), Far North East (1), North West (13), North Central (18), North East (6), Saskatoon (59), Central West (1), Central East (12), Regina (40), South West (1), South Central (1) and South East (8). Thirty-one people are in intensive care: North West (3), North Central (4), Saskatoon (14), Regina (9) and South Central (1).

There were 2,764 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on January 20, 2021.

To date, 481,856 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan.  As of January 19, 2021 when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 276,440 people tested per million population.  The national rate was 446,372 people tested per million population.

Further statistics on the total number of cases among healthcare 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 286 (23.6 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.

COVID-19 Recoveries to be Updated

The Ministry of Health and Saskatchewan Health Authority continue to ensure that public reporting of COVID-19 cases reflects current, active case counts including those who require hospital care.

Weekly Reporting of Testing Numbers and Cases for Youth

The trends of COVID-19 cases in school-aged children are being monitored.  The weekly report of cases and testing numbers for children aged 0-19, including data by age and positivity rates, has been posted at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-Safe-Schools-Plan.

There were 2,548 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered yesterday in Saskatchewan – this brings the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 29,781.

Saskatchewan now has one of the highest rates of vaccinations administered in Canada, but the pace of vaccinations will slow in the coming days with the supply of vaccines running short and no new vaccine deliveries from the federal government scheduled next week.   As of January 21, 91 per cent of the doses received have been administered in Saskatchewan.

The doses were administered in the following zones: Regina (800), Saskatoon (400), North Central (185), North West (418), Far North East (30), Far North Central (10), Central East (175) and South East (530).  No data reported January 20, 2021 for the Far North West and North East zones.

Administration of the first dose has been completed for long term care homes in more than 40 communities across the province.  This includes Saskatoon, Prince Albert and a range of communities across rural and northern Saskatchewan, with Regina being completed today.

The province received 2,925 doses of Pfizer vaccine late on Tuesday, which are currently being distributed for administration to priority populations in the Battleford area, Lloydminster, Regina and Fort Qu’Appelle.

The National Advisory Council on Immunization (NACI) now recommends an extended interval between first and second doses up to 42 days where operationally necessary.  This is supported by the World Health Organization and Canada’s Chief Medical Officers of Health. Previously, second doses were to occur between 21 and 28 days, depending on the vaccine brand.  Saskatchewan will be implementing these recommendations of up to 42 days where operationally necessary in order to deliver more first doses to eligible people.

For a listing of first and second doses in Saskatchewan administered by geographic zone, visit https://www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine-update.