Latest COVID update March 14: Vaccine bookings expanded, recoveries outweigh new cases, two deaths

The number of people in Saskatchewan who can book a COVID vaccine continues to expand.

In a news release Sunday, the Ministry of Health announced that anyone aged 70 or older will be able to schedule a shot, starting Monday at 8 a.m.

For people living in the Northern Administrative District, booking is open to anyone 50 or older. However, people aged 50-69 can only book over the phone by calling 1-833-727-5829. For anyone 70 or older, the online option is available.

The government is reminding 64-year-olds in the Regina area that they are eligible for a drive-through clinic at Evraz Place starting Monday. There, they can get a shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine without booking an appointment.

It’s only open to 64-year-olds because that vaccine isn’t recommended for anyone 65 or older.

“Health officials are currently working on expanding availability of the AstraZeneca vaccine to a wider age range in the Regina area. Additional details will be announced in the coming days,” the release said.

It was also reported that another 2,220 vaccine doses were given in the province, bringing the total to 102,415.

Those doses were given in the the northwest (410), north-central (320), Saskatoon (924), Regina (560)and central-east (six) zones.

A look at the numbers

Two new deaths were reported in the province Sunday.

One was someone in the 20-29 age range from the Regina area, while the other was in the 80+ age group from the far northwest zone. Since the pandemic hit Saskatchewan, 407 people have died with the virus.

There was some positive news as active cases dropped just below the 1,400 mark.

A total of 98 cases were reported, along with 166 recoveries. The active total now sits at 1,399.

The new cases are located in the far northeast (six), northwest (three), north-central (one), northeast (two), Saskatoon (25), central-west (two), central-east (15), Regina (27), southwest (six), south-central (four) and southeast (six) zones. The location is still under investigation for one new case.

Four previously reported cases were assigned to the northwest zone, while one was assigned to Regina.

The seven-day average of daily new cases now stands at 130, or 10.6 cases per 100,000 people.

Since last March, there have been 30,620 total infections and 28,814 recoveries.

There are 131 people in hospital across the province. Of those, 29 are in intensive care in the Saskatoon (13), Regina (12), central-east (two), north-central (one) and northwest (one) areas.

There were 1,752 tests processed in the province Saturday, raising that total so far to 610,593.