Latest COVID update May 17: Active case numbers drop below 2,000 in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has reached another vaccination milestone with more than 600,000 doses given while active cases of COVID-19 in the province are under 2,000 for the first time since April 1.

Another 12,173 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered since the last update. They were delivered in the Saskatoon (4,124), Regina (3,940), southeast (841), central-east (627), south-central (574), north-central (493), northwest (369), southwest (308), central-west (196), northeast (149), northeast (77), and far northwest (47) zones.

There were 428 doses administered to people whose hometowns are still being determined.

In the past three days, nearly 50,000 vaccine doses have been administered, which represents close to 10 per cent of all COVID-19 vaccinations delivered in the province. So far, 603,125 doses have been administered.

Seventy-four per cent of all Saskatchewan residents aged 40 or older have received a first dose. Sixty-seven per cent of those 30 and over have received their first dose. Fifty-nine per cent of those 18 and up have received their first dose.

On Tuesday, the age of eligibility for a first dose drops to 16 and older. Those aged 85 and older and others who received their first dose before Feb. 15 are eligible to book their second doses. Those diagnosed with or being treated for cancer as well as solid organ transplant recipients will receive a letter in the mail that will make them eligible to receive a second dose.

Appointments for second doses can only be booked by phone and not online. The number to call is 1-833-SaskVax (1-833-727-5829).

Another 63,180 Pfizer doses are expected to arrive this week and will be distributed to Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert as well as Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) South, ISC North, ISC North Battleford, Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) Prince Albert, and pharmacies.

COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS

Beginning Wednesday, those tested for COVID-19 may be notified of a negative result through an automated text messaging system.

Saskatchewan has another 178 new cases. There are 293 new recoveries and 1,965 active cases in the province.

The new cases are in the Saskatoon (55), Regina (42), central-east (21), northwest (16), south-central (10), southeast (nine), southwest (eight), far northwest (seven), north-central (five), northeast (one) and central-west (one) areas. The hometowns of three people are being determined.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 case number is 195 or 15.9 new cases per 100,000.

So far, Saskatchewan has had 44,709 cases of COVID-19 and 42,225 recoveries.

DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS

Two more people died with COVID-19. One was over 80 years old in the south-central zone and the other was in the 50-59 age group in the southeast. The total number of people to die with COVID-19 in Saskatchewan is now 518.

There are 142 people in hospital. Of those, 115 are receiving inpatient care and 27 are in the ICU.

Those receiving inpatient care are in the Saskatoon (49), Regina (46), northwest (five), central-east (four), north-central (three), southeast (two), southwest (two) and south-central (two) zones.

Those in ICU are in the Regina (15), Saskatoon (nine), northwest (one), north-central (one) and central-east (one) zones.