Four deaths and 264 new cases of COVID-19 were announced Friday, bringing the active number of cases in the province to 2,426.

Of the four individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 and died, one was in their 40's from the Regina zone, one in their 60's from the far northeast, one in their 70's from the south-central zone, and one resident was in their 60's with their area of residence pending.

Of the new cases, 14 are in the south-central zone, 79 in Regina, 63 in Saskatoon, 25 in the southeast, 24 in the northwest, 15 in the north-central zone, 11 in the southwest, 11 in the central-east, 10 in the far northwest, five in the northeast, and two in the central-west. Five of the new cases are pending resident information.

129 cases are considered active in the south-central zone, with 82 of those located in the sub-region 'south-central 2' which is made up of Moose Jaw and the surrounding area.

252 recoveries were also announced.

173 people are in hospital with 136 receiving inpatient care, and 37 are in intensive care.

Vaccine Shipments

According to Derek Miller, the Saskatchewan Health Authority's Chief of Emergency Operations, the province is about to see a boost to our vaccine shipments.

At the moment, the province has been receiving about 31,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine each week, but that shipment is about to double to approximately 63,000 per week.

Saskatchewan also received 18,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine on Thursday, which are now being distributed in rural and remote northern locations.

Vaccines Reported

An additional 5,758 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 427,739.

The 5,758 doses of COVID-19 vaccine reported today were administered to residents living in the following zones: Far North West, 225; Far North Central, 3; Far North East, 190; North West, 851; North Central, 651; North East, 471; Saskatoon, 1,576; Central West, 148; Central East, 193; Regina, 581; South West, 162; South Central, 115; and South East, 417. There were 175 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

Eighty-one per cent of Saskatchewan residents over age 60 have received their first dose. Sixty-one per cent of those 40+ have received their first dose. Forty-one per cent of those 18+ have received their first dose.

(With files from CJME)