COVID cases continue to trend downwards in Saskatchewan.
In its daily news release Sunday, the Ministry of Health reported 73 new cases in the province, the lowest such number since there were 56 on Feb. 24.
There were also 119 new recoveries, which dropped the active caseload down to 1,196. It hasn’t been that low since 1,122 people had the virus on Nov. 8 of last year.
The seven-day average of daily new cases also dropped significantly to 103, or 8.4 cases per 100,000 people. It’s also at the lowest figure since Nov. 8, when it was 97, or 8.0 cases per 100,000 people.
Saskatoon and Regina are the only two areas with new case totals in the double digits, with 26 in the Bridge City and 13 in the Queen City. The other new cases are located in the northwest (nine), north-central (eight), south-central (seven), central-east (six), central-west (two), southeast (one) and far northeast (one) regions.
Five previously reported cases were assigned to the Regina (three) and far northeast (two) zones. One person from Saskatchewan tested positive out of province.
No new deaths were reported Sunday, leaving the total so far at 546.
There was a bit of negative news, as hospitalizations rose slightly compared to Saturday.
There are now 101 people in hospital across the province. Of those, there are 19 in the ICU in the Regina (five), Saskatoon (10), central-east (two), southwest (one) and north-central (one) zones. Two of those ICU patients are from Manitoba and were transferred over, as hospitals struggle to keep up with COVID patients in our neighbouring province.
Vaccination update
It was another positive milestone on the COVID vaccine front Sunday.
The province reported another 13,642 doses were administered, raising the total past the 800,000 mark. That total now stands at 800,772 doses given.
Young people continue to get their shots. 67 per cent of people 18 or older have their first dose, while it’s 65 per cent of everyone 12 and older.
If that second group hits the 70 per cent threshold by June 20, then the provincial mask mandate and gathering size limits will be lifted on July 11.
The new doses were given in the Regina (2,826), Saskatoon (2,672), south-central (1,413), southeast (1,227), central-east (1,027), north-central (1,024), northeast (967), northwest (686), central-west (647), far northwest (341), far northeast (85) and far north-central (six) zones. They’re not yet sure where 298 people who rolled up their sleeves live.