Active COVID-19 cases in Sask. nearly double in last 10 days
Active COVID-19 cases across Saskatchewan rose to 448 Friday, which is the highest number since the province dropped all public health measures on July 11 and 206 more than the province had 10 days ago.
The government reported 56 new COVID-19 cases on Friday. The confirmed cases are in the Far Northwest (eight); Far North Central (one); Far Northeast (11); Northwest (two); North Central (two); Central West (four); Saskatoon (13); Regina (two); South Central (two) and Southeast (one) zones. Five cases are pending residence information.
Forty-six per cent of active cases and 36 per cent of new COVID-19 cases are in the Far North zones.
According to the province, there were 1,779 COVID-19 tests processed on Thursday. The seven-day average of daily new cases is 45 – up from 27 ten days ago.
There are 46 COVID-19 patients are in hospital; 12 are in ICU in the North Central (one); Saskatoon (six); and Regina (five) zones.
VACCINATIONS
The province said health-care workers have administered an additional 5,345 vaccines since the last update. Of those doses, 4,263 were second shots and 1,082 were first.
As of Friday, 75 per cent of residents age 12 and older have their first dose and 63 per cent are fully vaccinated.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said the August long weekend is the last opportunity for children between the ages of 12 and 17 to get their first dose if they want to be fully immunized before school starts.
According to public health, children should get the shot by Aug. 1, then wait the minimum 28 days to get the second. The SHA noted it takes around two weeks for the second dose to be fully effective.
VARIANTS OF CONCERN
The government said a total of 12,353 COVID-19 cases have been identified as variants of concern. Of those cases, 8,050 have been whole genome sequenced; 7,041 are Alpha (B.1.1.7), 573 are Delta (B.1.617.2), 426 are Gamma (P.1), and 10 are Beta (B.1.351).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.