What is already a bad situation in Regina when it comes to COVID-19 is getting worse.

Of the 156 new cases announced Tuesday, 101 are coming from the Regina zone.  It means 535 of Saskatchewan’s 1,292 active cases come from the Regina zone with the next closest being Saskatoon at 211.

The new cases are located in the Far North West (2), Far North East (7), North West (7), Saskatoon (16), Central West (1), Central East (4), South West (3), South Central (1) and South East (8) zones.

There are also two more deaths to report bringing the provincial number to 409.  The latest to die are someone in their 30’s from the Regina zone and someone in their 80’s from the Far Northwest.

138 people are in hospital with 31 of those in intensive care including 15 in Saskatoon and 11 in Regina.

The seven-day daily average is 138 or 11.3 new cases per 100,000 population.

The province also says there are 66 new confirmed variants of concern  cases being reported in the Saskatoon (1), Central East (1), Regina (61), South Central (1) and South East (2) zones. This brings the provincial total to 136: 130 B1.1.1.7 (UK) and six B1.351 (SA). The Regina zone accounts for 122 (or 90 per cent) of the confirmed VOC cases reported in Saskatchewan.

In addition to the confirmed cases, there are currently 210 presumptive VOC cases reported in the Far North East (1), Saskatoon (3), Central East (5), Regina (186), South Central (10) and South East (5) zones.

4,245 vaccines were administered on Monday with almost half of those happening in Regina with the AstraZeneca vaccine being offered to those in the 60-65 age range.