Two deaths and 227 new cases of COVID 19 were reported Friday, along with 188 recoveries.

One of the deaths reported was a resident in their 40s from the south-central zone, and the other individual was in their 70's from the Saskatoon area.

Of the new cases, 20 are in the south-central zone, 50 are in Saskatoon, 41 in Regina, 36 in the southeast, 18 in the northwest, 17 in the north-central zone, 15 in the southwest, 10 in the central-east, seven in the northeast, five in the central-west, two in the far northwest, one in the far north-central, and one in the far northeast. Four cases are pending resident information, and six cases tested out of province were added to the following zones: North West, 2; Saskatoon, 2; and Central East, 1; one case is pending residence information.

2,075 cases are considered active and 21 are considered active in the Central West Zone, an increase of two from the previous day.

149 people are in hospital with 115 receiving inpatient care, and 34 are in intensive care.

Second Dose Booking Available Starting Monday to Priority Populations

As of 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 to access 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.

Note that the SHA online patient booking system will be able to make booked clinic appointments for second doses starting at 8am, Tuesday, May 18. 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, public health is planning to offer your second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to match the brand of your first dose.

Vaccines Reported

An additional 7,930 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 553,389.

The 7,930 doses of COVID-19 vaccine reported today were administered to residents living in the following zones: Far North West, 206; Far North Central, 1; Far North East, 174; North West, 642; North Central, 273; North East, 268; Saskatoon, 2,616; Central West, 452; Central East, 517; Regina, 1,422; South West, 142; South Central, 223; and South East, 732. There were 262 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

In the Central West Zone, 16,038 people have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 1,255 are now fully vaccinated as of May 14.

The province is scheduled to begin its first phase of reopening on May 30, which falls three weeks after 70 percent of the population over 40 has received their first dose. As of now, 73 percent of the population over 40 meets that criteria.