Sask. COVID-19 Update: 167 New Cases, 156 Recoveries, One Death

Vaccines Reported

An additional 18,995 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 590,952.  This is a daily record for vaccines administered, due largely to the expanded capacity resulting from increased involvement of pharmacies in the COVID vaccination program.

The 18,995 doses of COVID-19 vaccine reported today were administered to residents living in the following zones: Far North West, 87; Far North Central, 9; Far North East, 170; North West, 665; North Central, 960; North East, 626; Saskatoon, 5,796; Central West, 319; Central East, 1,328; Regina, 5,805; South West, 525; South Central, 1,132; and South East, 1,083.  There were 490 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

Seventy-four per cent of those over the age of 40 have received their first dose.  Sixty-six per cent of those 30+ have received their first dose.  Fifty-seven 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.

Vaccination Booking System Open to Ages 20+

Eligibility in the provincial age-based immunization program is currently age 20 and older.  It remains age 18 and older for the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.  This applies to all immunization clinics: booked appointments, drive-thru/walk-ins, pharmacies and mobile clinics.

Prioritized front-line workers are also eligible.  A list of those occupations is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vax-eligibility.  Eligible priority groups 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.  Prioritized front-line workers 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).

Residents aged 20+ may book online at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19 or by calling 1-833-SaskVax (1-833-727-5829).  They may also attend a scheduled drive-thru or book at a participating pharmacy.  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.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has scheduled drive-thru and walk-in clinics throughout the province.  For street addresses and hours of operation for these clinics, see www.saskatchewan.ca/drive-thru-vax.

The current list of pharmacies offering vaccinations is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-pharmacies.  Find participating pharmacies near you using the map tool.

There may be clinic options outside your community and residents are encouraged to consider those alternate locations for immunization.  Additional stops should be avoided if possible when travelling to another community for an appointment.  More clinics will be added as new vaccine shipments are received.

There is a vaccination clinic in Drayton, North Dakota where eligible truck drivers and essential energy workers are able to receive their vaccine. This clinic is open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Second Dose Booking Available Starting Tomorrow to Priority Populations

As of 8:00 a.m., Monday, May 17, anyone who is 85 and older or anyone who received their first dose before February 15 will be eligible to book their second doses.  Individuals diagnosed with or being treated for cancer and those who have received solid organ transplants will receive a letter of eligibility in the mail that will allow them priority access to a second dose.

For all other residents, your eligibility to book for second doses will be announced according to the age-based and priority sequencing of first doses.

Starting Monday, May 17, second dose vaccinations will be available at participating pharmacies across the province, through the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) drive-thru and walk-in clinics as well as through clinics operated by Indigenous Services Canada and the Northern Inter-tribal Health Authority (NITHA).

At this time online booking is not yet available for second doses, it is anticipated to be available in the coming days.

Be ready by knowing the date you received your first vaccine.  If you do not know the date or have misplaced the wallet card provided at the time of your first dose, call 1-833-SaskVax (1-833-727-5829) and they can provide you with that date, or check your Immunization History on your MySaskHealthRecord account.

During your second dose appointment, the clinic or pharmacy will validate the timing and brand of your first dose to ensure you are receiving your second dose within the recommended timeframe.  The type of vaccine available at each location will be advertised to ensure that you are receiving the same vaccine brand for your second dose.

At this time, public health is planning to offer your second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to match the brand of your first dose.  National reviews of the safety and efficacy of interchanging the second dose brand are on-going and the provincial policy on maintaining the same brand for the second dose may be updated following this review.

Daily COVID-19 Statistics

There are 167 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on May 16, bringing the provincial total to 44,531 cases. Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 Dashboard is available here.

One new death is reported today in the 80+ age group from the Saskatoon zone.

The new cases are located in the following zones: Far North West, 6; Far North East, 1; North West, 20; North Central, 16; Saskatoon, 54; Central West, 1; Central East, 6; Regina, 29; South West, 3; South Central, 11; and South East, 14.  Six new cases are pending residence information.  One case with pending residence information has been assigned to the Saskatoon zone.

Recoveries total 41,932 and 2,082 cases are considered active.

There are 137 people in hospital.  One hundred and thirteen people are receiving inpatient care: Far North West, 1; North West, 4; North Central, 5; Saskatoon, 47; Central East, 3; Regina, 43; South West, 3; South Central, 3; and South East, 4.  Twenty-four people are in intensive care: North West, 1; North Central, 1; Saskatoon, 10; Central East, 1; and Regina, 11.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 case number is 191 (15.6 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 2,827 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on May 15, 2021.

To date, 822,565 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan.  As of May 14, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 691,293 tests performed per million population.  The national rate was 878,397.

As of May 15, 9,215 variants of concern have been identified by screening in Saskatchewan, reported in the following zones: Far North West, 206; Far North East, 15; North West, 392; North Central, 283; North East, 54; Saskatoon, 1,258; Central West, 100; Central East, 444; Regina, 4,371; South West, 314; South Central, 670; and South East, 956. There are 152 screened VOCs with residence pending.

There are zero new lineage results reported today.  Of the 4,443 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 4,341 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), 87 are P.1 (Brazilian), 10 are B.1.351 (SA), and five are B.1.617 (Indian).

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.

Negative COVID-19 Test Results On Your Phone

Beginning Wednesday, May 19 you may receive notification of a negative COVID-19 test result through an automated text messaging system.  To prepare for this notification option, starting Friday, May 14, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will introduce data collection through the online requisition form at drive-thru and static testing sites.  All patients who have a positive COVID-19 test result will still receive a call from public health, providing them with direction on self-isolation and to complete contact tracing questions.  If your COVID-19 test is negative, you can receive your results by text message to your cell phone.

You will be asked to grant permission to receive negative test results via text message at the time of your COVID-19 test.  These text messages will be identified as originating from the Saskatchewan Health Authority and you will be asked to verify if you are the correct recipient for the results.  If you are not the right recipient and an incorrect contact number has been provided, the Saskatchewan Health Authority will use other contact methods to provide those negative test results to the right person.  You will not be asked for any personal information via text message.

Update to Regina Public Health Order

Effective tomorrow, all Regina restaurants and licensed establishments will be able to resume in-person dining according to the guidance currently applicable province-wide:

• Limited to seat four at a single table.
• For indoor seating:
  • If there are impermeable barriers between tables, there must be a two metre distance between tables.
  • If there are no impermeable barriers between tables, there must be a three metre distance between tables.
• For outdoor patios and decks, with or without barriers, there must be a two metre separation between patrons at another table.
• No alcohol sales after 10 p.m. in licensed establishments.
• Restaurants and licensed establishments must maintain guest/reservation information on all patrons.

The restaurant and licensed establishment guidelines are available at www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/re-open-saskatchewan-plan/guidelines/restaurants-and-licensed-establishments-guidelines.

All other measures remain in place at this time and existing public health orders continue to be in effect for all areas of Saskatchewan outside of the Regina area.  Complete details on the public health orders currently in effect are available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-measures.

Don’t Let COVID-19 Hitch a Ride Home with You

While Saskatchewan continues to monitor COVID-19 trends throughout the province, public health reminds all residents to ensure any travel both within the province and inter-provincially is for essential purposes only.

If your interprovincial travel is necessary, please be aware of the risk of transmission in those jurisdictions, the public health orders that are in effect there, and plan to be tested immediately upon returning home.

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.

(Photo Credit: Saskatchewan Government/Saskatchewan Government News Release)