Latest COVID update Aug. 31 — Seven-day average rises to April levels

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan reached a four-month high Tuesday.

The Ministry of Health said the average was 248 cases, or 20.6 per 100,000 population. The average is the highest it has been since April 28, when it was 251.

Meanwhile, hospitalizations due to COVID in Saskatchewan reached a level not seen since late May.

The ministry said there were 130 COVID patients in Saskatchewan hospitals, the highest that figure has been since it was 133 on May 26.

There also were 30 people in intensive care units in the province, the most since there were 30 on May 25.

The province also reported 274 new cases, 153 recoveries and two deaths. The active caseload increased to 2,204, the highest it has been since it was 2,260 on May 9.

The new cases were reported in the Saskatoon (72), far northeast (45), north-central (40), northwest (36), northeast (12), central-east (12), Regina (10), far northwest (eight), central-west (seven), southwest (seven), southeast (three) and south-central (two) zones.

The hometowns of 20 cases are still being determined.

The ministry said about one in six of the new cases was fully vaccinated.

There were 18 cases that tested positive out of province added to Saskatchewan’s total and one out-of-province resident removed. The total number of cases reported in the province since the pandemic started now stands at 54,367.

The two deaths reported Tuesday increased the province’s total to date to 603.

There were 682 shots of COVID vaccine administered in the province, with 323 of them first doses.

To date, 694,804 Saskatchewan residents have received both doses and are considered fully vaccinated.

Weekly update

The government reported there were 1,567 new cases of COVID in Saskatchewan from Aug. 25 through Tuesday along with 977 recoveries. There also were 11 deaths reported over that week.

A total of 18 cases of variants of concern were reported over that seven-day span.