A large rise in recoveries from COVID-19 was reported in the province in the Sask Health Authority’s Thursday update.

The SHA announced 19 new confirmed cases of the virus and 17 new recoveries.

Once again, the majority of the new cases were in the far north region. Fifteen of the 19 cases were in the far north, with 12 of those in the La Loche area alone.

The far north region has now had the most positive cases reported during the pandemic. Their total rose to 167 today, topping the Saskatoon region's 163.

Meanwhile, the other four cases reported today are in the north region.

There have now been 531 reported cases and 329 recoveries province-wide. The active case total rose two to 196.

A dozen residents are current in hospital. Four remain in the ICU, with three in Saskatoon and one in the north region. The other eight are receiving inpatient care – six in Saskatoon and two in the north.

A total of 34,361 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province to date.