Latest COVID update Dec. 15: 7 deaths, 194 new cases, 363 recoveries

Saskatchewan has recorded its second-highest daily number of COVID-19-related deaths.

The province’s Tuesday update reported five deaths in the 80-and-over age range, including four Saskatoon residents and one from Regina. Since Nov. 22, there have been 45 people in that age range who have died after contracting COVID.

Another fatality was reported in the central-west region; that person was in the 50-to-59 age range. The northwest zone reported a person in their 20s had died after contracting the virus.

The seven deaths mean that 98 people have now passed away after contracting COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.

There were 194 new cases reported as well, bringing the total number of active cases to 4,204.

New cases were found in the Saskatoon (53), Regina (37), northwest (28), north-central (21), southeast (14), far northwest (13), far northeast (11), south-central (five), central-east (five), northeast (two), far north-central (one), and southwest (one) zones. The locations of another three new cases are not yet known.

A high number of recoveries, 363, was reported, bringing the total number of recoveries up to 8,130. The province has seen a total of 12,432 cases to date.

Tuesday also marked the largest single-day increase in the number of health-care workers who have been diagnosed, up from 416 on Monday to 477 cases on Tuesday. The province’s media release noted that “the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.”

Hospitalization numbers remain steady for the second day in a row at 124. There are 26 people in intensive care, including in the Regina (11), Saskatoon (nine), north-central (five), and southwest (one) zones.

The 98 others who are in hospital are located in the Saskatoon (45), Regina (27), north-central (10), northwest (nine), southeast (three), far northwest (two), southwest (one) and central-east (one) zones.

More to come.