Latest COVID update Aug. 5: Sask. active COVID-19 cases rise above 500 first time since June

For the first time in more than a month, active cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan number more than 500.

Today, the province announced 56 new cases of the virus, bringing the number of active cases to 503. The last time Saskatchewan had more than 500 active cases was 549 reported on June 27, 2021.

Two new deaths were also reported Thursday, one from the north central region and one from the southwest.

In a release, the Saskatchewan Health Authority predicted that COVID-19 transmission will continue over the next month and into the fall, particularly among residents who are unvaccinated.

There were 3,861 new vaccine doses administered.

A look at the numbers

There have been 50,251 cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.

The province has now seen 581 deaths and 49,167 recoveries. One death reported was in the 60 to 79 age category; the other was in the 80 and up age category.

New cases were reported in Saskatoon (17), southeast (15), far northwest (five), Regina (four), far north central (two), far northeast (two), north central (two), south central (two), southwest (two), central west (one) and northwest (one).

There are three fewer hospitalizations since Wednesday in the province. There are 42 patients receiving inpatient care: Saskatoon (18), north central (12), Regina (eight), far northwest (one), northwest (one), south central (one) and southeast (one). Eleven patients are in intensive care: Regina (four), Saskatoon (four), north central (three).

COVID-19 tests completed since Wednesday number 1,764, with a total of 968,564 tests completed to date.

The seven-day average for new COVID cases in the province is now 51.

Vaccination update

A total of 1,422,820 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered in the province, with 658,751 Saskatchewan residents now fully vaccinated.