COVID-19 in Sask: 5 new cases of B1617 variant identified

Saskatchewan health officials reported Friday that the province hadconfirmedfive additional cases of theB1617 variant of concern, the same highly-transmissiblevariant that has fuelled a surge in COVID-19 cases in India.

The province identified its first five cases of B1617 late last week, with two more following earlier this week and five more announced on Friday, bringing the total to 12. Five of those cases are in Regina and five are in Saskatoon.

Officials announced a total of 173 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, more than the current seven-day average of 162new cases per day,or 13.2new cases per 100,000 people, according tothe province's latest update.

Two more people have diedfrom the illness: a person in their 70s from the far northeast and a person aged 80 or over from the northwest region.

The number of known active cases province-wide is 1,776, down from 2,075one week ago.

Saskatoon continues to lead the province in new cases with 34more infections, with 30in Regina and 25in the central east being the next most.

There are 132infected patients in hospital, including 25people in intensive care. One week ago, on May 13, there were 149people in hospital, including 34in ICU.