Sask. reports highest number of new COVID-19 cases since reopening
The Saskatchewan government reported 80 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, which is the highest number seen since the province fully reopened on July 11.
The new cases are in the Far Northwest (28); Far North Central (six); Far Northeast (two); Northwest (five); North Central (six); Northeast (one); Saskatoon (11); Central East (two); Regina (six); Southwest (two); South Central (one) and Southeast (seven) zones. Location information is pending for three cases.
The province also recorded 53 recoveries and no additional deaths.
There are 479 active cases across Saskatchewan, which continue to be concentrated in the northern half of the province. Forty-five per cent of active cases are in the Far North zones and 13 per cent of active cases are in Northern zones. Saskatoon accounts for 15 per cent of active cases, while Regina makes up 12 per cent.
On Friday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority issued warnings about increased COVID-19 activity in Lloydminster and Swift Current.
The province said there were 1,810 COVID-19 tests processed on Friday. The seven-day average of daily new cases is 50.
There are 46 COVID-19 patients are in hospital; 11 are in ICU in the North Central (one); Saskatoon (five); and Regina (five) zones.
VACCINATIONS
According to the province, health-care workers have administered an additional 5,308 vaccines since the last update.
As of Saturday, 1,411,497 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, including 761,397 first doses and 650,100 second shots.
The SHA said Sunday 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 12,356 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
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.