Latest COVID update April 20: 51 in ICU, 249 new cases, five cases of Brazilian variant

More than 50 people with COVID-19 are in intensive care in Saskatchewan, the highest number recorded during this pandemic.

Regina has 35 patients out of a total of 51. Saskatoon has 10 ICU patients, while the south-central zone has three, north central has two and central-east has one.

The previous high for ICU patients was 47.

In total, there are 195 people in hospital with COVID-19. Regina has the largest number at 69, while Saskatoon has 45. In other zones, the numbers are in the single digits: Southeast (seven), central-east (six), north-central (five), south-central (four), northwest (three), and one each in central-west, southwest, northeast, far northeast and far northwest.

The government also reported Monday 249 new cases and 142 new cases of variants of concern. There were no new deaths reported.

As well, the province reported the first confirmed cases of the Brazilian variant. Of the 2,060 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 2,046 are the United Kingdom strain, nine are the South African mutation and five are the Brazilian variant.

A look at the numbers

The latest recoveries increased that total in the province to date to 35,546 and lowered the active caseload to 2,640.

The latest new cases were reported in the Regina (102), Saskatoon (55), northwest (19), north-central (17), southeast (16), central-east (13), south-central (seven), southwest (seven), central-west (six), far northwest (two), far northeast (two) and northeast (one) zones.

Residence information for two cases is still being determined.

The seven-day average of new cases is 247, or 20.2 per 100,000 population.

The new cases of variants increased the total to date identified by screening in Saskatchewan to 5,027. The Regina region (1,475) continues to report the highest total.

There were 3,243 COVID-19 tests processed in the province on Monday, increasing the total so far to 734,832.

Vaccination update

Shipments from Pfizer are expected to arrive for Regina and Saskatoon. More is expected for North Battleford, Prince Albert and Yorkton on Wednesday.

In total, Saskatchewan is expected to receive 63,180 doses in May and 74,880 doses for June, an increase from previous figures.

There were 5,278 shots given in the latest reporting period, hiking the total in the province so far to 357,447.

The 5,278 doses of COVID-19 vaccine reported Tuesday were administered in the Saskatoon (2,503), Regina (657), north-central (540), central-east (392), southeast (256), south-central (262), northwest (154), central-west (166), northeast (86), southwest (32), far northwest (29), far northeast (56) and far north-central (two) zones.

The hometowns of 143 people who received a shot is still being determined.