The provincial government is thanking vaccine uptake in the province for the lowering number of COVID-19 cases, as well as hospitalizations over the last month.

The 7-day average case count is the lowest its been in 7 months, since early November. The 7-day average is also down 2/3 from the third wave peak in April, and almost down 30% in the last week alone.

Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr Saqib Shahab, says the majority of cases recorded in May were in those who have not yet been vaccinated.

"The majority of new cases were in those who were unvaccinated, or those who had just received their vaccine in the last three weeks. Hospitalizations, again, the vast majority were people who were unvaccinated or just recently vaccinated."

In the Month of May there were a total of 5,296 new cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. Of those; 4,869 (91.9%) were in unvaccinated individuals, or in those who had received their COVID-19 vaccine less than three weeks prior.

In addition to that, there were 191 hospitalizations last month. Of those; 155 (81.1%) were individuals who were unvaccinated, or those who had received their vaccine less than three weeks prior.

While case numbers have been dropping consistently throughout Saskatchewan, the south-central zone has seen a recent rise in cases, with numbers more than doubling in the last 12 days. There were 44 active cases in the region on May 27, but as of June 8, there are 108.

"We have seen ongoing transmission at a low level, trending downward, but still continuing in southern rural areas like Moose Jaw," says Dr. Shahab, "Vaccination rates are impacting transmission in both work places and households, but it just reinforces the point that we need a high vaccine uptake."

As of Tuesday, 78% of those 40 and over have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 72% of those 30 and over, 78% of residents 18 and over, and 65% of those 12 and over.