Latest COVID update Dec. 13: Saskatchewan reports fifth case of Omicron

Saskatchewan has detected another case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

On Monday, the Ministry of Health’s COVID dashboard showed a fifth case of Omicron had been found through whole genome sequencing. The first four cases in the province were reported last Wednesday.

To date, 16,522 cases of variants of concern have been detected during the pandemic.

The province also reported 35 new cases of COVID, the lowest daily total since 24 were announced Aug. 3.

For the second straight day, the total included more cases among people who were fully vaccinated (18) than cases involving unvaccinated individuals (15).

There also were 79 recoveries reported and — for a third straight day — no deaths. To date, 937 Saskatchewan residents have died due to COVID.

The number of active cases fell to 568, the first time it has been under 600 since it was 549 on Aug. 6.

The Saskatoon region had the most active cases Monday, with 144, while the Regina area had 101.

Hospitalizations due to COVID in Saskatchewan rose by one from Sunday’s report, to 110. That included 34 cases in intensive care.

One Saskatchewan resident is being treated in an Ontario health-care facility.

A look at the numbers

The new cases were reported in the Regina (13), Saskatoon (nine), north-central (five), central-east (four), southeast (two) and northwest (one) zones. The hometown of one case was pending.

The new infections were detected in 997 tests for a test positivity rate of 3.5.

To date, 81,852 cases have been reported in Saskatchewan along with 80,347 recoveries.

The seven-day average of new COVID cases was 54, or 4.5 per 100,000.

There were 1,147 doses of COVID vaccine administered in Saskatchewan, including 836 first shots and 311 second shots.

To date, 1.776 million shots have been administered in the province, including 844,947 second jabs.