The number of active cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan fell for a sixth straight day Friday, but the province’s rate of active cases remains the highest in Canada.
In its daily update, the Ministry of Health said there were 195 new cases, 256 recoveries and two deaths. That dropped the active caseload in Saskatchewan to 1,900 — the lowest that number has been since it was 1,807 on Nov. 15.
But according to the federal government, Saskatchewan’s rate of active cases as of Thursday was 164 per 100,000 population — the highest-such figure in the country. Quebec was next at 129, followed by Alberta (124) and Manitoba (115).
The two deaths reported Friday increased the total in Saskatchewan to date to 350.
The latest fatalities were a person in their 40s from the Saskatoon zone and an individual in the 80-and-over age group from the central-east area.
The new cases announced Friday were in the Saskatoon (54), Regina (27), far northwest (21), north-central (19), northwest (16), southeast (10), far northeast (nine), northeast (nine), central-west (nine), central-east (six), far north-central (five) and south-central (five) zones.
The residence information of five cases is still being determined.
The seven-day average of daily new cases is 170, or 13.9 per 100,000 population. Saskatchewan now has had 26,145 cases since the pandemic began.
The recoveries reported Friday increased that total to date to 23,895. Seven positive cases who live outside of the province were removed from the total.
The number of hospitalizations in the province fell to 182. That includes 23 people in intensive care, with nine in the Saskatoon area, eight in the Regina region, two in each of the northwest and central-east areas, and one in each of the north-central and southwest zones.
The 2,694 COVID tests processed in the province on Thursday increased the total to date to 538,087.
Vaccination update
Health-care professionals administered 525 vaccine doses in Saskatchewan on Thursday, increasing the total so far to 46,788.
Shots were given in the far northwest (175), north-central (171), far northeast (81), northeast (66), far north-central (21) and northwest (11) areas.
The government announced the shipment of Moderna vaccine it’s to receive the week of Feb. 22 will be smaller than initially expected, so the “Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority will need to review distribution plans.”