COVID-19: 37,563 vaccines, 363 new cases reported over weekend

Nearly 38,000 Saskatchewan residents received a COVID-19 vaccine dose during a two-day span Friday and Saturday as the province continues to edge closer to the vaccination rate needed to activate the second phase of its reopening plan.

A new provincial daily record of 18,995 doses were administered Saturday, eclipsing the previous mark of 18,658 delivered April 17, according to the provincial government’s data. Another 18,568 doses were administered Friday, the third-highest daily vaccination rate since the start of the immunization push.

This new daily record is “due largely to the expanded capacity resulting from increased involvement of pharmacies in the COVID vaccination program,” stated a government news release.

A total of 590,952 doses have now been given in Saskatchewan, and 66 per cent of people ages 30 and up have received their first dose. Seventy per cent of this age group must be vaccinated and at least three weeks passed since Step 1 came into effect for Step 2 to kick in.

The first step is set to take effect on May 30, three weeks after 70 per cent of everyone ages 40 and up received their first shot.

The latest round of vaccines reported Sunday included new doses administered Saturday in the far north west (87), far north central (9), far north east (170), north west (665), north central (960), north east (626), Saskatoon (5,796), central west (319), central east (1,328), Regina (5,805), south west (525), south central (1,132) and south east, 1,083.  There were 490 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

Friday’s doses were administered in the far north west (122), far north central (one), far north east (132), north west (667), north central (985), north east (775), Saskatoon (4,764), central west (412), central east (1,534), Regina (5,722), south west (657), south central (977) and south east (1,168) zones. An extra 652 administered doses are still waiting for residence information.

On Sunday, the eligible age to get a COVID-19 vaccine dropped from 23 to 20. All adults in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District remain eligible.

The province is also starting its second dose rollout on Monday, with anyone ages 85 and older, or anyone who received their first dose before Feb. 15, becoming eligible for their second shot. The provincial online booking system will only be able to start booking these appointments starting Tuesday at 8 a.m.

Starting Monday, second dose-vaccinations will be available at participating pharmacies across the province, through the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) drive-thru and walk-in clinics as well as through clinics operated by Indigenous Services Canada and the Northern Inter-tribal Health Authority (NITHA).

Saskatchewan reported one new death Sunday in the 80-plus age group from the Saskatoon zone and another death was reported Saturday for somebody in their 80s from Regina. That brings the death COVID-19 death count in the province to 517.

A total of 167 cases reported Sunday are in the following zones: far north west (6), far north east (1), north west (20), north central (16), Saskatoon (54), central west (1), central east (6), Regina (29), south west (3), south central (11) and south east (14). There are 16 new cases are pending residence information.  One case with pending residence information has been assigned to the Saskatoon zone.

There were 196 new cases reported Saturday in the far north west (three), far north east (four), north west (19), north central (21), north east (two), Saskatoon (67), central west (three), central east (20), Regina (26), south west (nine), south central (five) and south east (13) zones. Four cases were awaiting residence information.

In total, there have been 44,531 confirmed cases of COVID-19 for the province.

COVID-19 activity continues to increase in Saskatoon, which leads the province as the zone with 605 active cases. The Regina zone has fallen to 404 active cases.

There are 137 people in Saskatchewan hospitals being treated for COVID-19, with Saskatoon leading the way with 47 receiving in-patient care and 10 in intensive care. Regina has 43 in-patients and 11 in the ICU. Overall, the province has 24 COVID-19 patients in ICU.

Because of falling case numbers and growing vaccination rates, Regina’s restaurants are set to reopen on Monday to allow for in-person dining with up to four people per table. Other COVID-19 protocols must still be followed.

More cases of variants of concern also continue to be detected across the province.

As of Saturday, 9,215 variants of concern have been identified by screening in Saskatchewan, reported in the following zones: Far North West, 206; Far North East, 15; North West, 392; North Central, 283; North East, 54; Saskatoon, 1,258; Central West, 100; Central East, 444; Regina, 4,371; South West, 314; South Central, 670; and South East, 956. There are 152 screened VOCs with residence pending.

There are zero new lineage results reported.  Of the 4,443 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 4,341 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), 87 are P.1 (Brazilian), 10 are B.1.351 (SA), and five are B.1.617 (Indian).  ‘

A total of 2,827 COVID-19 tests were processed Saturday in Saskatchewan and another 3,511 tests Friday.

lgiesbrecht@postmedia.com

dzary@postmedia.com

The news seems to be flying at us faster all the time. From COVID-19 updates to politics and crime and everything in between, it can be hard to keep up. With that in mind, the Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox to help make sure you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.