Latest COVID update Nov. 30: 2 deaths, 325 new cases reported

Saskatchewan reported Monday the deaths of two residents who had tested positive for COVID-19.

Both individuals were in the 80-and-over age group. One lived in the south-central area of the province, while the other was a resident of the southeast zone.

To date, 47 deaths in the province have been associated with COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health also reported 325 new cases, increasing the provincial total of cases to date to 8,564.

New cases were reported in the Saskatoon (125), Regina (62), north-central (27), northwest (23), southwest (22), far northeast (14), southeast (13), central-east (10), far northwest (nine), northeast (nine), south-central (eight) and central-west (one) zones. The hometowns of two new cases remain under investigation.

The seven-day average of new cases in the province is 263, or 21.7 per 100,000 population.

According to public health, there currently are more than 6,600 reported contacts that require follow-up in the province.

The government reminded residents that close contacts at this time should only be members of their immediate households.

There were 49 recoveries reported Monday, increasing that total so far to 4,638. The province said 3,879 cases are considered active.

There are 123 people in Saskatchewan hospitals due to COVID, an all-time high for the province.

That number includes 23 people in intensive care, with 14 in Saskatoon, six in Regina and three in the north-central area.

Of the 100 people receiving inpatient care, 33 are in Saskatoon, 26 are in Regina, 18 in the southeast, eight in the northwest, eight in the north-central zone, three in the northeast and one in each of the far northwest, central-east, southwest and south-central regions.

The number of health-care workers to contract the virus rose to 256. The number stood at 99 at the end of October.

Of the total number of cases, there have been 2,603 from the Saskatoon area, 1,742 in the north, 1,529 in the Regina region, 1,122 from the south, 913 in the far north, and 627 from the central area. The hometowns of 28 cases are pending.

In November, the number of cases in the Saskatoon area increased by 1,801. There were 1,134 cases reported in the Regina region over the month, 1,118 cases in the north, 622 in the south, 473 in the far north and 246 in the central region.

The total number of cases to date comprises 3,050 from ages 20 to 39, 2,291 in the 40-to-59 age range, 1,774 involving people 19 and under, 1,127 from ages 60 to 79, and 317 in the 80-and-over range. The ages of five cases are being investigated.

There were 4,251 tests processed in Saskatchewan on Sunday. The total to date now stands at 345,487.

More outbreaks declared

Outbreaks declared in the past few days include in the hemodialysis unit at the Regina General Hospital, the dialysis unit at Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital and the food services department at Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford.

Others have been declared at a men’s shelter in Lloydminster, at several personal care homes around the province, among a number of hockey teams and curlers, and in the cast members of a Louis Riel play at Regina’s Turvey Centre.

Outbreaks are declared when there are two or more cases in a non-household setting.