7 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Sask., 472 new cases
Seven more Saskatchewan residents have died after testing positive for COVID-19.
The deaths were located in the Far North East (one), North West (two), North Central (one), Saskatoon (two) and Central West (one) zones. One death was in the 20-39 age group, one was in the 40-59 age group, two were in there 60-79 age group and three were 80 years or older.
Saskatchewan has reported 637 deaths related to COVID-19 to date.
The province also reported 472 new cases on Friday. Of the new cases, 383 are in unvaccinated people, while 25 are partially vaccinated and 64 are fully vaccinated.
Ninety-one new cases are in the 0-11 age group. Children under the age of 12 are not currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
As of Friday, 223 people are in hospital related to COVID-19, including 50 patients in intensive care.
The new cases are located in the Far North West (16), Far North East (26), North West (60), North Central (27), North East (23), Saskatoon (80), Central West (nine), Central East (24), Regina (54), South West (27), South Central (34) and South East (46) zones. An additional 46 new cases have pending residence information.
There are 4,234 cases currently considered active. Saskatoon continues to lead the province with 1,021 active cases. The north zone is also experiencing high active case counts, with 611 in the North West and 585 in the North Central. Regina sits at 291 as of Friday.
The seven day average of daily new COVID-19 cases is 444, or 36.9 per 100,000 population.
Health care workers administered 3,287 more doses of COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday – bringing the province’s total to 1,511,313 doses. There are 714,081 residents fully vaccinated.
SHA SLOWING MEDICAL PROCEDURES
The Saskatchewan Health Authority's (SHA) Emergency Operations Centre directed leaders and care teams to move to a second phase of surge plans that include a temporary slowdown of elective procedures province-wide Friday.
The SHA said the move is the result of "rapidly escalating" COVID-19 pressures on hospitals in Saskatchewan.
The directive asks health care teams to focus on COVID-19 care while continuing to support emergency and cancer procedures and treatments deemed urgent in the next six weeks.
PROVINCE-WIDE MASK MANDATE IN EFFECT
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced an indoor masking mandate will come into effect on Friday followed by a proof-of-vaccination policy.
In a video posted to Facebook Thursday morning, Moe said the fourth wave is "being driven almost entirely" by unvaccinated people.
Moe said a proof-of-vaccination policy will be implemented beginning Oct. 1 with the "interim" indoor masking measure likely lifted later in the month
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.