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While the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to drop in Saskatchewan, the number of hospitalizations is increasing.
The Ministry of Health’s update Wednesday said there were 57 new cases, the lowest single-day total since 56 were reported Feb. 24. But hospitalizations went up by five from Tuesday’s report to 109, the highest total since May 30.
The ministry also reported 171 recoveries and one death. A person in their 50s from the central-west zone is the 552nd Saskatchewan resident to die as a result of the virus.
The number of active cases being reported fell to 938, the first time it has been under 1,000 since Nov. 7. That’s also the last time the seven-day average of new COVID cases was as low as it is — 87, or 7.1 per 100,000 population.
There were 12,528 COVID vaccinations done, including 9,860 second doses. It’s the 10th straight day that the total of second shots exceeded the number of first doses administered in Saskatchewan.
A look at the numbers
The new cases were reported in the Saskatoon (21), Regina (12), central-east (six), northwest (five), far northeast (four), north-central (three), northeast (two), far northwest (one), central-west (one) and south-central (one) zones. The hometown of one case is pending.
The total number of cases in Saskatchewan since the pandemic started stands at 47,574. There have been 46,084 recoveries reported.
To date, 11,463 cases of variants of concern have been identified by sequencing in Saskatchewan.
There are 86 people receiving inpatient care in Saskatchewan hospitals, the highest total since May 29. The biggest jump since then is in the northwest zone, where there are 13 such patients — up from six on May 29.
There also are 20 people in intensive care units around the province, with eight in the Saskatoon region, five in the Regina zone, four in north-central hospitals, and one in each of the northwest, central-east and southwest zones.
One ICU patient is a transfer from Manitoba.
The 2,203 COVID tests done in Saskatchewan on Tuesday hiked the province’s total to date to 879,641.
Vaccination update
The 12,528 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in the latest reporting period increased the province’s total so far to 828,652.
The latest shots were given in the Regina (3,624), Saskatoon (2,894), southeast (1,247), south-central (833), central-east (790), northeast (746), north-central (518), southwest (489), northwest (407), central-west (338), far northwest (225), far northeast (200) and far north-central (two) zones.
The hometowns of 215 recipients are pending.
The province also announced it was changing the eligibility for second doses as of Thursday. Anyone 55 and over or people who received their first dose on or before April 7 will be eligible, while people who have been diagnosed with or are being treated for cancer and those who have received solid organ transplants will receive a letter of eligibility in the mail.
