Latest COVID update Sept. 1 — Active cases continue to rise

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan has increased by more than 400 per cent over the past month.

On Wednesday, the provincial government reported there were 2,372 active cases in Saskatchewan, up from 474 on Aug. 2.

The number of active cases currently is the highest it has been since it was 2,397 on May 3.

The Saskatoon region has 735 active cases, with the north zone reporting 724 and the far north reporting 396.

The Ministry of Health said Wednesday there 321 new cases, 149 recoveries and four more deaths due to the virus.

There have been 15 COVID-related deaths in Saskatchewan over the past seven days, increasing the total in the province to 607 since the pandemic started.

The new cases were reported in the Saskatoon (95), far northeast (69), north-central (38), Regina (19), far northwest (13), southeast (11), northwest (nine), northeast (seven), central-east (six), central-west (five), far north-central (four), southwest (three) and south-central (two) zones.

The hometowns of 40 cases are still being determined.

Three cases previously included in the province’s total have been deemed to be out-of-province residents and were removed. Two people who tested positive in private labs and one who tested positive outside of Saskatchewan were added to the total, which now stands at 54,688.

The Saskatoon area has recorded the most cases to date, with 13,077. The Regina region is next at 12,480, with the north zone at 12,300.

There are 134 COVID patients in Saskatchewan hospitals, including 30 in intensive care.

The seven-day average of new COVID cases in the province stands at 263. It hasn’t been that high since April 18, when it was 264.

There were 1,789 doses of COVID vaccine administered in Saskatchewan in the latest reporting period, including 1,019 second doses.

To date, 1,478,163 vaccinations have been given in the province. So far, 695,823 Saskatchewan residents have received two doses and are considered fully vaccinated.