Latest COVID update Dec. 14: 47 new cases, 4 deaths

Four more Saskatchewan residents have died due to COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths Tuesday. It’s the most deaths in a day since Nov. 28, when there also were four fatalities.

The province had reported a total of only three deaths over the previous six days.

Two of the latest fatalities were in the 80-and-over age group, with one in each of the 40-to-59 and 60-to-79 age groups. Two of the deaths were reported in the central-east region, with one in the Regina area and one in the northeast zone.

Since the pandemic started, 941 Saskatchewan residents have died due to the coronavirus.

There also were 47 new cases and 66 recoveries reported Tuesday.

The number of hospitalizations in the province remained steady from Monday’s update at 110, with 34 of those individuals in intensive care.

Saskatchewan didn’t report any new cases of the Omicron variant, leaving that number at five so far.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted Tuesday the federal government and its provincial counterparts will meet as soon as possible to address Omicron in the country.

I just spoke with Premier @JJHorgan, as Chair of the Council of the Federation. We’re going to convene a meeting as soon as possible with the premiers to address Omicron and make sure we’re working together to keep you safe as we head into the holidays. We’ve got your back.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 14, 2021

A look at the numbers

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

The total comprised 28 unvaccinated individuals and 19 people who were considered fully vaccinated.

To date, there have been 81,899 cases reported in the province and 80,413 recoveries. The active caseload stands at 545, the lowest that number has been since it was 503 on Aug. 5.

There were 820 doses of COVID vaccine administered in the latest reporting period, comprising 562 first shots and 258 second shots.

To date, more than 1.777 million doses have been given in Saskatchewan, with 845,205 of them second shots. There also have been 169,365 third and fourth doses administered in the province.

As of Tuesday, 87 per cent of residents 12 and over and 83 per cent of residents five and over have received their first dose. Eighty-three per cent of people 12 and up and 75 per cent of those five and over are fully vaccinated.