In the July 6 COVID-19 update from The Saskatchewan Health Authority they are reporting 14 new cases of the virus in the province.

Of those 14 new cases there are 5 in the Far North West zone, 1 in the North Central zone, 2 in the North West zone, 4 in the North Central zone, and 2 in the Regina zone.

That brings the provincial total number of cases to 48,992, of which 313 are considered active.

There are 2 active cases in the South West zone, both in the South West subzone 2.

There is 1 new death reported in the 30-39 age group from the North West zone.

That brings the provincial total number of deaths to 569.

There are 60 recoveries reported, bringing that provincial total to 48,110.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases is 28 (2.3 new cases per 100,000 population). This is the lowest seven-day average since October 13, 2020.

There are 62 people in the hospital. Fifty-two are receiving inpatient care - 3 in the North West zone, 8 in the North Central zone, 24 in the Saskatoon zone, 2 in the Central East zone, 11 in the Regina zone, 3 in the South Central zone, and 1 in the South East zone.

There are 10 people in intensive care - 1 in the North West zone, 2 in the North Central zone, 4 in the Saskatoon zone, and 3 in the Regina zone.

To date, there have been 925,232 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan.

And yesterday there were 1,549 COVID-19 tests processed.

As of July 5 there are a total of 12,212 variants of concern cases identified by screening in the province - 324 in the Far North West zone, 4 in the Far North Central zone, 87 in the Far North East zone, 836 in the North West zone, 633 in the North Central zone, 80 in the North East zone, 2,124 in the Saskatoon zone, 146 in the Central West zone, 651 in the Central East zone, 4,810 in the Regina zone, 889 in the South Central zone, and 1,145 in the South East zone.

There are a total of 401 in the South West zone.

There are 82 screened variants of concern cases with residence pending.

There are 271 new lineage results.

Of the 7,515 variants of concern cases with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing 6,816 are Alpha (B.1.1.7), 385 are Gamma (P.1), 304 are Delta (B.1.617.2), and 10 are Beta (B.1.351).

The number of confirmed cases of the Delta variant has increased significantly in the last two weeks. The Delta variant is assumed to 1.5 times more transmissible and twice as virulent as the Alpha variant.

Two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are required for optimal protection against the Delta variant. Residents are strongly encouraged to get their first and second doses as soon as possible.

An additional 8,348 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number administered to 1,233,534. Over half a million residents are now fully vaccinated.

Of the 8,348 vaccine doses given there were 49 administered in the South West zone.

Seventy-one percent of those 12 and over have received their first vaccine dose and 49% of those 12 and over are fully vaccinated.