June 2 COVID-19 update: one death, 740,251 vaccines administered, 130 new cases, 116 recoveries

Vaccines Reported

An additional 9,299 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 740,251.

The 9,299 doses of COVID-19 vaccine reported today were administered to residents living in the following zones: Far North West, 174; Far North Central, 15; Far North East, 174; North West, 511; North Central, 386; North East, 274; Saskatoon, 2,363; Central West, 481; Central East, 470; Regina, 2,490; South West, 394; South Central, 285; and South East, 1,122.  There were 160 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

Seventy-seven per cent of those over the age of 40 have received their first dose.  Seventy-one per cent of those 30+ have received their first dose.  Sixty-six per cent of those 18+ have received their first dose, while 63 per cent of those 12+ have also received their first dose.

Note: Age is calculated on the date of the most recent dose.  Someone age 69 at their first dose and 70 at their second will now be counted in the 70-79 group for both doses, resulting in a decrease in the 60-69 first dose number. 

All vaccine administration details for the province, including first and second doses, can be found at https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness.

Second Dose Booking Eligibility 

All residents 12+ can receive their first dose.  Second dose vaccinations are open to residents 65+ or anyone who received their first dose before March 22, 2021.  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. 

Eligibility to book for second doses is based on age or date of first dose. Residents who meet at least one of these criteria are eligible for their second dose.  The following table is a tentative guideline for those who received Pfizer or Moderna for their first dose; timelines may change due to vaccine availability. 

This week's shipment of 74,880 Pfizer doses is expected to arrive in Saskatchewan today.  These doses will be distributed to Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) North, ISC South, ISC North Battleford, Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority Prince Albert and pharmacies throughout the province.

At this time AstraZeneca is available for second doses for individuals who received AstraZeneca for their first dose and who are over the age of 85 or cancer patients, solid organ transplant patients, or patients receiving treatment with Rituximab and Ocrelizumab, who received a letter.  These individuals will be contacted for an appointment.

Clinics offering AstraZeneca as a second dose will be announced this week.  You are not required to receive AstraZeneca as a second dose when you are eligible, as you may receive Pfizer or Moderna if that is your preference.

Note that all vaccine types will not be available at all clinic locations.  Vaccine types will be listed when immunization clinics are advertised.  

Second dose vaccination appointments can be booked through the Saskatchewan Health Authority online at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19 or by calling 1-833-SaskVax (1-833-727-5829).

A map of participating pharmacies across the province is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-pharmacies.  This online tool includes links to pharmacy booking websites and provides details on the vaccine brand being offered at each location.

For street addresses and hours of operation for drive-thru and walk-in clinics, see www.saskatchewan.ca/drive-thru-vax.

Please do not call until you are eligible to book your vaccination appointment.  If you do not know the date of your first dose or have misplaced the wallet card provided at the time of your first dose, 1-833-SaskVax can provide you with that date, or check your Immunization History on your MySaskHealthRecord account.

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.

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.

Additional information on how to book your appointment is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine-booking.

Daily COVID-19 Statistics

There are 130 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on June 2, bringing the provincial total to 46,964 cases.  

One new death is reported today in the 70-79 age group from the North West zone.

The new cases are located in the following zones: Far North West, 8; North West, 13; North Central, 8; North East, 7; Saskatoon, 46; Central West, 1; Central East, 2; Regina, 22; South West, 2; South Central, 12; and South East, 7.  Two new cases are pending residence information. 

Recoveries total 45,138 and 1,285 cases are considered active.

There are 103 people in hospital. Eighty-one people are receiving inpatient care: North West, 6; North Central, 6; North East, 1; Saskatoon, 34; Central East, 2; Regina, 26; South West, 2; South Central, 2; and South East, 2.  Twenty-two people are in intensive care: North West, 1; North Central, 3; Saskatoon, 10; Central East, 1; Regina, 6; and South Central, 1.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 case number is 131 (10.7 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 2,798 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on June 1, 2021.

To date, 865,803 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan.  As of May 31, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan's per capita rate was 728,001 tests performed per million population.  The national rate was 917,317.

As of June 1, 10,812 variants of concern have been identified by screening in Saskatchewan, reported in the following zones: Far North West, 244; Far North East, 46; North West, 609; North Central, 475; North East, 60; Saskatoon, 1,700; Central West, 109; Central East, 597; Regina, 4,670; South West, 381; South Central, 778; and South East, 1,077.  There are 66 screened VOCs with residence pending.

There were 81 new lineage results reported today.  Of the 5,794 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 5,594 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), 159 are P.1 (Brazilian), 31 are B.1.617 (Indian) and 10 are B.1.351 (SA).

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.

It may not be allergies or a spring cold.  Get tested for COVID-19.

Fever? Cough and headache? Fatigued or experiencing shortness of breath?  Do not "tough it out" or assume it's spring allergies.  Stay home and seek a COVID-19 test. Testing remains one of the most important tools to limiting the spread of COVID-19 in your community.  Even if you have been recently vaccinated, it can take up to three weeks for your immune system to respond.  Vaccines are not a cure preventing all possible transmission and you remain at risk of contracting COVID-19 during that time. 

COVID-19 testing is available to all residents.  You can still receive a referral for COVID-19 testing through HealthLine 811 or a health care provider, and drive-thru testing sites are available without a referral seven days a week in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton and Prince Albert.  Information on symptoms to watch for and how to get tested is available at saskatchewan.ca/covid19-testing.

Step One of Saskatchewan's Re-Opening Roadmap is Underway

Step One of Saskatchewan's Re-Opening Roadmap is underway and public health orders have been updated.  Details on the Re-Opening Roadmap can be viewed at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/saskatchewans-re-opening-roadmap.

Reminder: while the restrictions being lifted are no longer mandatory, many are still recommended.  Older persons and those with increased risk factors may wish to wait until two weeks after receiving a second dose before attending gatherings.  Transmission is generally less likely outdoors than indoors.

Step Two of Saskatchewan's Re-Opening Roadmap is tentatively scheduled to begin on June 20.  If we continue to remain diligent and observe public health measures, we will reach our goal of re-opening our province in the coming weeks.

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.