The number of active COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan has fallen to its lowest level in more than a month.
According to an update Wednesday from the Ministry of Health, 2,016 cases are considered active in the province. That’s the lowest-such figure since April 1, when there were 1,949 active cases.
The ministry also reported Wednesday 238 recoveries, 183 new COVID cases and two deaths.
Two people in their 70s — one from the north-central zone and one from the central-east zone — are the latest fatalities due to COVID. To date, 508 Saskatchewan residents have died due to the virus.
A look at the numbers
The latest new cases were reported in the Saskatoon (52), Regina (41), northwest (26), southeast (23), central-east (15), north-central (seven), south-central (seven), far northwest (four), southwest (three), central-west (two) and northeast (one) areas.
The hometowns of two new cases are still being determined.
Nine cases that were tested out of province have been added to Saskatchewan’s total; it now stands at 43,673.
The seven-day average of new COVID cases is 203, or 16.6 per 100,000 population.
There were 114 new cases of variants of concern identified by screening in the province, increasing the total to date to 8,628.
There are 37 people in intensive care units across the province, with 19 in the Regina region, 13 in the Saskatoon area, two in the central-east zone and one in each of the northwest, north-central and southwest zones.
In total, there are 163 COVID patients in Saskatchewan hospitals.
The 3,048 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on Tuesday increased the provincial total to date to 808,727.
Vaccination update
According to the province, 72 per cent of those aged 40 and over have received their first doses of a COVID vaccine. To date, 62 per cent of those 30 and over and 52 per cent of those 18 and older have got their first jabs.
There were 6,737 COVID vaccinations done in Saskatchewan in the latest reporting period, increasing the total so far to 537,044.
Those shots were given in the Saskatoon (2,288), Regina (1,494), northwest (604), north-central (477), southwest (357), central-east (276), southeast (251), central-west (209), south-central (186), northeast (173), far northwest (100) and far northeast (15) zones.
As well, 307 doses were administered to people whose hometown is unknown.
Negative COVID test results via text
Starting Friday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority is to begin collecting data through its online requisition form at drive-through and other testing sites.
All patients who get a positive diagnosis will receive a call from public health. But starting May 19, those who test negative can receive that news through an automated text message to their cellphone.