Latest COVID update Dec. 21: 4 deaths, 206 new cases

More COVID-19-related deaths are being reported in Saskatchewan.

The province’s daily update confirms that four people in the Regina region have died after contracting COVID, one in each of the 50-to-59, 60-to-69, 70-to-79, and 80-and-over age groups. This brings the total number of COVID-related fatalities in Saskatchewan since March to 122.

As well, the number of active cases increased slightly after recent gains in recoveries. There were 206 new cases reported Monday, bringing the total number of active cases to 3,990. With 92 recoveries reported, the total number of people recovered increases to 9,649.

New cases were reported across the province, including the Saskatoon (46), north central (38), northwest (37), Regina (26), northeast (12), far northeast (13), far northwest (10), central east (10), south central (six), southeast (four), and southwest (one) zones. Three new cases have not had residence information confirmed.

Saskatchewan has seen a total of 13, 761 cases of COVID-19 confirmed so far.

Hospitalizations increased over the weekend, with 131 people now receiving treatment for COVID. Of that, 28 are in intensive care in the Saskatoon (eight), north central (seven), Regina (two), southwest (two), and northwest (one) regions. Another 111 are receiving inpatient care in Saskatoon (43), Regina (25), north central (18), northwest (seven), southeast (seven), central east (five), far northwest (two), far north central (one), and central west (one) zones.

The province is now reporting the number of vaccinations that have been delivered. So far 1,285 people have received their first of two shots; all are health care workers, part of the pilot phase of the vaccine roll-out. Those vaccines are being delivered as health care worker cases continue to rise, up to 574 positive cases during the pandemic.

A large number of positive diagnoses continue to have no known origin. It has been determined that 587 cases are the result of travelers entering Saskatchewan, and 6,572 are cases of community contacts spreading the virus. However, 3,089 cases have no known exposures and 3,513 are still under investigation.

Of the 13,671 total cases seen in this province, 3,997 are from the Saskatoon area, 3,186 cases were found in the north, 2,694 have been in the Regina area, 1,503 cases were diagnosed in the south zone, 1,470 are from the far north, 866 are from the central area, and the location of 45 has yet to be determined.

People of all ages are contracting the virus, with 2,975 cases found in the 19-and-under age range, 4,864 cases are in the 20-to-39 range, 3,538 cases are in the 40-to-59 range, 1,785 are in the 60-to-79 range, and 594 are in the 80-and-over age range.

The province has announced it will not be providing updated COVID statistics for certain days during the holidays, including Dec. 25, 26, and 28, as well as Jan. 1, 2021.