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COVID-19 Update For May 1: 435,142 Vaccines Administered, 262 New Cases, 233 Recoveries, Three New Deaths

Vaccines Reported

An additional 7,403 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 435,142. 

The 7,403 doses of COVID-19 vaccine reported today were administered to residents living in the following zones: Far North West, 128; Far North Central, 30; Far North East, 53; North West, 926; North Central, 413; North East, 78; Saskatoon, 2,088; Central West, 540; Central East, 761; Regina, 1,421; South West, 179; South Central, 188; and South East, 366.  There were 232 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

Eighty-one per cent of Saskatchewan residents over age 60 have received their first dose.  Sixty-two per cent of those 40+ have received their first dose.  Forty-one per cent of those 18+ have received their first dose.

All vaccine administration details for the province, including first and second doses, can be found at https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness.  As the source database for vaccine information, Panorama is subject to continuous data updates which may result in revised counts, day over day.

Distribution of the Janssen vaccines are on hold until Health Canada approves the product through the regulatory process. More information on when Saskatchewan will receive this shipment is expected next week.

Vaccination Booking System Now Open to Ages 40+ 

Eligibility in the provincial age-based immunization program has expanded to age 40 and older, except for the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, where it has expanded to age 30 and older.  

Remaining prioritized front-line workers are also now eligible. A list of those occupations is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vax-eligibility. This applies to all immunization clinics: booked appointments, drive-thru/walk-in, pharmacies and mobile clinics.

Eligible priority groups under 40 years of age may visit a drive-thru or walk-in clinic, arrange an appointment with a participating pharmacy, or call 1-833-SaskVax (1-833-727-5829) to make an appointment through the SHA booking system.  The online booking system is only available to those 40+, and public health must ensure residents under 40 are not scheduled in a clinic providing AstraZeneca. 

Eligible residents under 40 years will be required to provide proof of employment at the time of immunization (a pay stub, letter from their employer, or a copy of a professional license).

Please remember that demand for appointments outweighs current available supply.  There may be clinic options in communities outside the major urban centres and residents are encouraged to consider those alternate locations for immunization. Additional clinics will be added as new vaccine shipments are received.

Appointments can be made online at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.  People who do not have a cell phone or email account, need assistance in booking, or are providing documentation for priority eligibility status must book by calling 1-833-SaskVax (1-833-727-5829).  Additional information on how to book your appointment is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine-booking.

Please do not call until you are eligible to book your vaccination appointment.

Individuals who experience a severe or unusual reaction after getting a COVID-19 vaccination can report it by calling 811.  Anyone experiencing a severe reaction such as difficulty breathing should call 911.  Any adverse event that may be related to a vaccination is reported in order to continuously monitor the safety of vaccines. 

Drive Thru and Walk In Vaccination Clinics Starting Today

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has scheduled drive thru and walk in clinics throughout the province starting Saturday, May 1 in support of Saskatchewan’s plan to vaccinate as many residents as possible, as quickly as possible.  For street addresses and hours of operation for these clinics, see www.saskatchewan.ca/drive-thru-vax.  All clinics are available to residents 40 years and older, and eligible priority groups. 

Eligible residents under 40 years will be required to provide proof of employment at the time of immunization (a pay stub dated no earlier than March 2, 2021, letter from their employer, or a copy of a professional license).

Daily COVID-19 Statistics

There are 262 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on April 30, bringing the provincial total to 41,360 cases. 

Three new deaths are reported today in the following groups: one in the 40-49 age group from the Regina zone; one in the 60-69 age group from the Regina zone; and one in the 70-79 age group from the Saskatoon zone.

The new cases are located in the following zones: Far North West, 14; North West, 27; North Central, 20; North East, 2; Saskatoon, 49; Central West, 2; Central East, 16; Regina, 71; South West, 15; South Central, 13; and South East, 28.  Five new cases are pending residence information. Two cases pending residence have been assigned to the following zones: North Central, 1; and Regina, 1.

Recoveries total 38,414 and 2,452 cases are considered active.

There are 167 people in hospital.  One hundred and twenty-nine people are receiving inpatient care: Far North East, 1; North West, 4; North Central, 3; North East, 1; Saskatoon, 54; Central East, 6; Regina, 51; South West, 2; South Central, 3; and South East, 4.  Thirty-eight people are in intensive care: North Central, 2; Saskatoon, 12; Central East, 2; Regina, 21; and South Central, 1.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 case number is 238 (19.4 new cases per 100,000).  A chart comparing today’s average to data collected over the past few months is available at https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness/covid-19/seven-day-average-of-new-covid-cases.

There were 3,856 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on April 30, 2021.

To date, 773,643 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan.  As of April 29, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 648,937 tests performed per million population.  The national rate was 828,288.

As of April 30, 6,999 variants of concern have been identified by screening in Saskatchewan, reported in the following zones: Far North West, 135 Far North East, 3; North West, 215; North Central, 129; North East, 22; Saskatoon, 794; Central West, 81; Central East, 308; Regina, 3,777; South West, 197; South Central, 523 and South East, 727. There are 88 screened VOCs with residence pending.

There are no new lineage results reported today.  Of the 2,522 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 2,491 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), 22 are P.1 (Brazilian) and nine are B.1.351 (SA).  The Regina zone accounts for 1,653 (66 per cent) of the VOC cases with confirmed lineage reported in Saskatchewan.

Please note that these VOCs may have been initially identified by means other than screening (i.e. selection for whole genome sequencing without screening).  Whole genome sequencing results to identify lineage are included in the screening results.  Confirmed variant of concern cases may appear in both columns on the website, depending on testing for that case.  Adding the cases identified by screening and those that have received whole genome sequencing may result in double-counting individual cases.

Further statistics on the total number of cases among health care workers, breakdowns of total cases by source of infection, age, sex and region, total tests to date, per capita testing rate and current numbers of confirmed variants of concern can be found at http://www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-cases.

Public Health Measures

Due to increased COVID-19 transmission risk throughout the province, the Chief Medical Health Officer has extended all current provincial public health orders until May 10, 2021.  The orders will be reviewed at that time.  Full details on current public health measures can be found at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-measures.  

All residents are urged to adhere to best personal protective measures:

  • Wear your mask in all public places including all workplaces.
  • Wash non-medical masks daily.
  • Maintain physical distancing.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Reduce activities outside of your home.  Order take-out or curbside pick-up.  Work from home if you are able to do so.
  • Avoid all unnecessary travel throughout the province at this time.

If you have any symptoms, stay home and arrange for a COVID-19 test.  If anyone in your home has symptoms, the entire household should remain home until the test results are known.  Testing information is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-testing.

General COVID-19 Information

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

Know your risk.  Keep yourself and others safe: www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/about-covid-19/know-your-risk.