Two additional deaths, 178 new cases of Covid-19 in Saskatchewan May 17

1,965 active cases, 142 in hospital, 27 in intensive care

May 17, 2021, 1:43 pm

Daily COVID-19 Statistics
There are 178 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on May 17, bringing the provincial total to 44,709 cases.

There are 8 active cases in Central East 5, including the Esterhazy and Melville areas

There are 8 active cases in South East 2, including the Moosomin, Rocanville, Whitewood and Kipling areas.

There are 126 active cases in South East 4, including the Redvers, Carlyle, and Estevan areas

Two new deaths are reported today. One death was reported in the 80+ age group from the South Central zone and one death was in the 50-59 age group from the South East zone.

The new cases are located in the following zones: Far North West, 7; North West, 16; North Central, 5; North East, 1; Saskatoon, 55; Central West, 1; Central East, 21; Regina, 42; South West, 8; South Central, 10; and South East, 9. Three new cases are pending residence information. Four cases with pending residence information has been assigned to the Far North West, 1; North West, 2; and South Central, 1.

Recoveries total 42,225 and 1,965 cases are considered active.

There are 142 people in hospital. One hundred and fifteen people are receiving inpatient care: North West, 5; North Central, 3; Saskatoon, 49; Central East, 4; Regina, 46; South West, 2; South Central, 2; and South East, 4. Twenty-seven people are in intensive care: North West, 1; North Central, 1; Saskatoon, 9; Central East, 1; and Regina, 15.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 case number is 195 (15.9 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 2,568 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on May 16, 2021.

To date, 825,133 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan. As of May 16, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan's per capita rate was 693,692 tests performed per million population. The national rate was 880,988.

As of May 16, 9,343 variants of concern have been identified by screening in Saskatchewan, reported in the following zones: Far North West, 209; Far North East, 15; North West, 404; North Central, 283; North East, 55; Saskatoon, 1,301; Central West, 101; Central East, 457; Regina, 4,392; South West, 320; South Central, 678; and South East, 974. There are 154 screened VOCs with residence pending.

There are no 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, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) began data collection on Friday, May 14 through the online requisition form at drive-thru and static testing sites. Individuals 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.

Regina Public Health Orders Updated for Restaurants and Travel Restrictions Lifted
Effective today, 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.

Regina and area travel restrictions have been lifted effective immediately.

All other measures remain in place at this time and existing public health orders continue to be in effect for all areas of Saskatchewan. 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.