Saskatchewan reports seventh death due to COVID-19

A seventh Saskatchewan resident has died due to complications from COVID-19.

It’s the first coronavirus-related death in the province since April 29.

In a media release Wednesday, the Government of Saskatchewan said the person in their 60s lived in the northern region of the province.

That region and the Saskatoon area each has recorded two deaths due to the virus to date. The other three fatalities have been in Regina, the far north and the central region.

The government also announced 21 new cases Wednesday — the province’s highest single-day total since it announced 25 new cases on May 6.

Sixteen of the new cases are in the far north, including 15 split between the communities of La Loche (nine) and Beauval (six). There also are four new cases in the north and one in the Saskatoon area.

The cases reported Wednesday bring the total number to date in Saskatchewan to 620.

There have been 242 cases in the far north, 165 from the Saskatoon area, 110 in the north, 76 from the Regina area, 15 in the south and 12 from the central area.

Of the total, 339 cases have been community contacts (including mass gatherings), 139 have been travellers, 71 haven’t had any known exposures and 71 are being investigated by local public health.

The total number of cases includes 49 health-care workers.

Demographically, 88 cases have involved people 19 years of age and under. There have been 223 cases in the 20-to-39 age range, 187 between the ages of 40 and 59, 104 in the 60-to-79 range, and 18 aged 80 and over.

There also were 24 recoveries reported Wednesday, increasing that total so far to 494. That includes 158 in Saskatoon, 139 in the far north, 98 in the north, 74 in Regina, 15 in the south and 10 in the central region.

There now are 120 active cases in the province, comprising 102 in the far north, 11 in the north, five in Saskatoon, one in the central region and one in Regina.

There are four people in hospital in Saskatoon, including three in intensive care and one receiving inpatient care.

There were 345 tests done Tuesday, bringing the province’s total to date to 41,951 .

More to come.