What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
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Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
Saskatchewan’s death toll from COVID-19 went over the 900 mark Wednesday.
The Ministry of Health reported four deaths, meaning 901 people from this province have died as a result of the virus since March of 2020.
Two of the fatalities announced Wednesday were in the 80-and-over age group, with one from each of the 40-to-59 and 60-to-79 age groups. There was one person from each of the central-east, northeast, northwest and far northwest zones.
The ministry also reported 149 new cases and 177 recoveries. Twenty-four people from Saskatchewan who were tested out of province were added to the total number of cases, which now stands at 79,783.
The number of COVID-related hospitalizations in the province dropped by three, to 168. That includes 42 cases in intensive care units.
There also are 11 ICU patients being treated in Ontario.
A look at the numbers
The new cases were reported in the Saskatoon (39), southeast (35), central-east (19), Regina (17), northwest (12), north-central (10), southwest (eight), far northeast (two), central-west (two) and south-central (two) zones. The hometowns of three cases are being determined.
The total comprised 105 people who weren’t vaccinated, 41 individuals who have received two doses, and three people who were partially vaccinated.
There were 2,036 tests done in the province, resulting in a test positivity rate of 7.3.
The seven-day average of new cases was 114, or 9.5 per 100,000.
The active caseload stood at 1,104, a drop of eight from the previous day.
To date, 77,778 recoveries have been recorded.
There were 2,039 doses of COVID vaccine administered in the province, comprising 598 first shots and 1,441 second shots.
So far, 1,703,773 shots have been given in Saskatchewan and 821,659 people have got two doses and are considered fully vaccinated.
Duncan clarifies position
In a letter to the board chairs of the province’s school divisions, Education Minister Dustin Duncan clarified the province’s position regarding proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test for students.
Duncan wrote he had been told of some cases in which students who were eligible to be vaccinated but who hadn’t got a shot were being prohibited from attending school events.
“Under the Education Act, 1995, all students are to be afforded the opportunity to fully participate in school instruction and athletic and arts programming as long as the student is asymptomatic and not under self-isolation order as a result of being a COVID positive case or a close contact of a COVID positive case,” the letter read.
Duncan said he appreciated the divisions’ efforts to ensure “that no student is excluded from participation in school sports as a result of their vaccination status.”