Sask COVID-19 update: 113 new cases, 160 recoveries and one death

There are 113 new cases of COVID-19 and 160 recoveries to report in Saskatchewan on March 9, bringing the provincial total to 29,918 cases.

One Saskatchewan resident who tested positive for COVID-19 has died. This death was reported in the 50-59 age group from the North West zone.

There are three new cases in the South East region, all in Zone 2 to the north of the corner. There are still three active cases in Estevan’s Zone 4.

The other new cases are located in the Far North West (4), Far North East (9), North West (9), North Central (4), North East (1), Saskatoon (37), Central East (4), Regina (30), South West (3) and South Central (1) zones. Eight (8) cases are pending residence information. Three cases with pending residence information were assigned to the Far North West (1), North Central (1) and Regina (1) zones. One (1) case was found to be an out-of-province resident and removed from the counts.

There are a total of 28,104 recoveries and 1,414 cases are considered active. This is the lowest number of active cases since November 11.

One hundred and thirty-nine (139) people are in hospital. One hundred and fourteen (114) people are receiving inpatient care: Far North West (2), Far North East (1), North West (12), North Central (8), North East (2), Saskatoon (44), Central East (3), Regina (39) and South East (3).  Twenty-five people are in intensive care: North Central (2), Saskatoon (11), Central East (2) and Regina (10).

There were 1,874 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on March 8.

To date, 597,743 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan.  As of March 7, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan's per capita rate was 503,275 tests performed per million population. The national rate was 665,069 tests performed per million population.

The seven-day average of daily new cases is 141 (11.5 new cases per 100,000), the lowest seven-day average since November 13.  

Vaccination progress

An additional 736 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 93,512.

The 736 doses of COVID-19 vaccine reported today were administered in the following regions: North West (479), North Central (165) and Saskatoon (92).

For a listing of first and second doses in Saskatchewan administered by geographic zone, visit https://www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine-update.

Saskatchewan's first shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine (15,500 doses) arrived earlier today. Administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to commence in the coming days at a drive-thru location in Regina for eligible groups including individuals between the ages of 60-64 and priority health care workers.

The Pfizer vaccine shipment for the week of March 8 is now arriving in Saskatchewan. Shipments for the Saskatoon (3,510 doses) and Regina (3,510 doses) areas are expected to be delivered today (March 9). Shipments for the North Battleford (4,680 doses), Yorkton (1,170 doses) and Prince Albert (1,170 doses) areas are expected tomorrow (March 10).

RRPL Completes Initial Variant Survey

The Roy Romanow Provincial Lab (RRPL) has completed an initial survey of positive COVID-19 cases of individuals that initially tested positive during the period of Jan. 26 to Feb. 27.  Of 190 cases sequenced for the variants, 35 were confirmed to be variants, including 28 in the Regina zone. Sequencing of positive cases for the initial survey began on March 1 when RRPL began in-province whole genome sequencing and were reported to the Ministry of Health on March 8.

The confirmation of 44 variant of concern cases present over the span of two months is an indication that variants of concern, particularly B.1.1.7 initially detected in the UK, are present in Saskatchewan and community transmission has been occurring over the last two months. This also indicates that while variant transmission has been occurring over the last two months, Saskatchewan's COVID-19 data, including active cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths, have continued to decline. Saskatchewan will continue to monitor for variants through targeted and randomized surveys of positive COVID-19 cases.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the variants confirmed during the RRPL's initial two-month variant survey of positive COVID-19 cases:

Note that, as public health investigations proceed, variant of concern case locations may change due as residence locations are confirmed.

The best protection against all COVID-19 variants remains the same as protection against COVID-19: stay home, physically distance, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask and get tested if you are experiencing even mild symptoms.

Find testing options near you at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/testing-information.