Latest COVID update Aug. 17 – 107 new cases, lowest single-day total of vaccinations since Mar. 2021

The number of vaccines administered that were reported Tuesday in Saskatchewan — 541 — is the lowest single-day total of vaccines administered in the province since Mar. 8, 2021, when 504 vaccines were administered.

A total of 107 new COVID-19 cases were reported Tuesday, bringing Saskatchewan to 1,017 active cases.

There were no deaths and 130 recoveries also reported.

Additional vaccine doses for travel

The Saskatchewan government has announced they will be allowing additional doses of COVID-19 vaccinations for residents who may need them to travel internationally immediately.

“All vaccines given in Canada are approved by Health Canada and are safe and effective, and offer good protection against all known strains of the virus including the Delta variant,” reads a Tuesday news release from the provincial government.

Some countries are reportedly requiring proof of vaccination with specific vaccines before visitors will be allowed entrance. The most common is requiring two doses of the same mRNA vaccine, like Pfizer or Moderna.

Residents who received a combination of the AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna vaccines can receive a third vaccination dose to match the brand of their last shot, as long as their last vaccination was Pfizer or Moderna.

Those who received doses of Covishield or AstraZeneca are able to complete a schedule to support international travel requirements with two additional matching mRNA vaccines.

Proof of intent to travel is not required to receive these vaccinations. Appointments can be booked at pharmacies offering vaccinations or pop-up clinics.

Residents interested in travelling are advised to check approved vaccines for the country, venue or destination they wish to visit.

A look at the numbers

Saskatchewan has now reported a total of 51,499 COVID-19 cases. Recoveries number 49,896.

New cases in the province were reported in Saskatoon (25), north central (17), far north west (12), northeast (12), central east (eight), far northeast (seven), Regina (six), northwest (four), southwest (three), southeast (two), central west (one) and far north central (one).

Seventy-nine people are currently hospitalized, with 68 inpatients: Saskatoon (25), north central (21), Regina (eight), northwest (four), south central (four), central east (two), southeast (two), northwest (one) and southwest (one). Eleven patients are in intensive care: Saskatoon (seven), Regina (two), north central (one) northwest (one).

Of the patients hospitalized, 61 (77 per cent) are not fully vaccinated.

There have been 586 deaths in the province.

The seven-day average of daily new cases is 117.

COVID-19 tests numbering 1,468 were administered in the latest update. A total of 988,937 tests have been completed.

Vaccination update

A total of 1,448,368 vaccinations have been administered in the province. There are 677,198 residents who have been fully vaccinated in Saskatchewan.

On Aug. 17, 76 per cent of residents over the age of 12 had received their first dose, and 66 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Weekly overview

From Aug. 11 to 17, a reported 13,758 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were given in the province.

A total of 820 new cases of the virus were reported in Saskatchewan between Aug. 11 and 17 and 435 recoveries were recorded.

Two deaths occured during the same period and 28 cases were confirmed as variants of concern.