Saskatchewan has recorded its second-highest daily new COVID-19 case count of 2021. On Friday, the provincial government announced six more deaths, 358 new cases and 160 more recoveries.
The province now has a total of 453 deaths from residents who tested positive for the virus. Friday’s deaths were located in four zones around the province:
- One death in the 40-49 age group from the Regina zone;
- Four deaths in the 70-79 age group in the Regina (2), Saskatoon (1) and South East (1) zones;
- One death in the 80-plus age group from the Regina zone.
New cases were located in the Far North West (6), North West (30), North Central (14), North East (7), Saskatoon (64), Central West (3), Central East (19), Regina (108), South West (4), South Central (8), and South East (63) zones. The active case count is up to 2,337 – the province’s highest amount since Feb. 7.
The seven-day daily average has increased to 242, or 19.7 new cases per 100,000 population.
(Image courtesy of Government of Saskatchewan)
Hospitalizations around the province are at 206 people with 163 receiving inpatient care and 43 people in intensive care units.
An additional 11,634 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 256,280. This is the highest daily doses administered to date.
Variants of concern
The provincial government says 3,086 variants of concern (VOC) have been identified by screening as of April 8 in Saskatchewan. Those cases were reported in the Far North West (2), Far North East (4), North West (7), North Central (24), Saskatoon (189), Central West (13), Central East (71), Regina (2,189), South West (19), South Central (266), and South East (283) zones.
Of the 951 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 943 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK) and eight are B.1.351 (SA). The Regina zone is showing 802 (84 per cent) of the VOC cases with confirmed lineage reported in Saskatchewan.
The government is warning the public of a rise in variants of concern across southern Saskatchewan, including the Moose Jaw, Weyburn and Estevan areas. Residents in these areas are urged to follow best personal protective measures such as reducing activities outside of your home, and avoiding unnecessary travel to and from the Moose Jaw and Weyburn areas.
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