Murray Wood: Of Easter bunny bells and Juicy Fruit gum
For Murray Wood, Easter brings to mind grandma's practical advice about repurposing, and some of life's little lessons.
The Ministry of Health is reminding everyone in Saskatchewan to celebrate a safe Valentine’s Day and Family Day weekend.
“Show the people you love how much you care by keeping them safe from COVID-19,” a section of Saturday’s daily COVID-19 update read.
“At this time, public health does not recommend sharing of gifts, chocolates, or food in schools and at workplaces. If you are purchasing a Valentine’s Day gift for close friends or loved ones, give only individually-wrapped, unopened store-bought treats or products. If you’re sharing cards, set them aside for 24 hours before handling,” the statement continued.
The province is also encouraging staying in and ordering takeout as opposed to going out Sunday.
As for Family Day, the province hopes families keep social circles to just immediate household members to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
“Take the opportunity to get outdoors for your physical and mental health, even if it means adding an extra layer of long underwear,” the release warned.
“If you are headed outdoors, you may gather in groups of 10 with two meters of physical distancing between household groups. Food should not be shared between non-household members.”
Saskatchewan is reporting 244 new cases of COVID-19 in the province Saturday.
In its daily update, the Ministry of Health said four people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died.
Two deaths were reported in the 70 to 79 age group from the Saskatoon area, one death was reported in the 80-plus age group from the central-east zone and one death was reported in the 80-plus age group from the northwest zone.
New cases are located in the Saskatoon (66), Regina (55), the northwest (30), the far northwest (23), north-central (18), central-east (14), far north-central (nine), northeast (eight), far northeast (six), central-west (six), southeast (five) southwest (one) and south-central (one) zones. Two cases are pending resident information.
Seven cases previously pending residence information have been assigned to the far northwest (two), north-central (four) and central-east (one).
A total of 24,085 individuals have recovered, including 190 more people Saturday; 1,950 cases are considered active.
There are 187 people in hospital, 167 of which are receiving inpatient care.
Twenty people are in intensive care at Saskatoon (eight), Regina (seven), the northwest (one), north-central (two), central-east (two).
Of the 167 people receiving inpatient care, 55 are located in Saskatoon, 44 are in Regina, 22 are in the north-central, 19 are in the northwest, 11 are in the central-east, seven are in the southeast, three are in the northeast, two are in the far northwest, two are in the far northeast, and one case is located in the central west and southwest zones.
There were 3,157 COVID-19 tests processed on Friday.
Vaccination Update
There were 1,691 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered Friday.
The total number of doses administered is now at 48,566. Drawing extra doses from vaccines delivered already, the province has been able to administer 104 per cent of the doses to date.
The 1,691 doses were administered in the following zones: far northwest (118), far north-central (31), northeast (450), north-central (1061), central-west (six) and Saskatoon (25).
Doses were administered Wednesday in the central-east (32) and southeast (28) zones. On Thursday, the central-east zone administered an additional seven doses while the southeast zone administered 20 more doses.
