A Saskatchewan resident in their 80s from the far north region has died from complications related to COVID-19. There are now six deaths in the province as a result of being infected with the virus.

As of April 29, 2020, Saskatchewan has 17 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 383. Eleven of the new cases are from the far north (La Loche), five from the north region (four in Lloydminster) and one from the Saskatoon area.

Eighty-six of the cases are considered active. Recoveries remain at 291.

Currently, there are 10 people in hospital – seven are receiving inpatient care (four in Lloydminster and three in Saskatoon), while three are in intensive care (Saskatoon).

Of the 383 cases in the province:
• 137 cases are travellers;
• 154 are community contacts (mass gatherings included);
• 35 have no known exposures; and
• 57 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan:
• 38 of the cases are health care workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.
• 151 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area, 75 from the Regina area, 74 from the north, 57 from the far north, 15 from the south, and 11 from the central region.
• 34 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults.
• 140 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 129 are in the 40-59 age range; 69 are in the 60-79 age range; and 11 are in the 80-plus range.
• 50 per cent of the cases are males and 50 per cent are females.
• Six deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.

To date, 29,106 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of April 27, 2020, when other provincial and national numbers were available from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 22,917 people tested per million population, which exceeds the national rate of 19,709 people tested per million population.

Cluster Identified in Lloydminster

The new COVID-19 cases in Lloydminster have been linked to a cluster based in Lloydminster Hospital. Thirteen cases have been identified, including five health care workers and eight patients, and transmission has occurred in the hospital setting.

As of April 29, 2020, the patients are being co-horted in separate units in Lloydminster Hospital. COVID-19 patients will still be admitted to Lloydminster Hospital. Non-COVID-19 patients requiring admission may be diverted to another hospital. Key emergency department, emergency surgical and obstetrical services remain available at Lloydminster Hospital.

That is subject to change based on the ongoing risk assessment by public health. All health care workers who have been identified as close contacts with a confirmed case are being tested as the contact investigation continues.

Mass Gatherings Not Allowed – Even with Physical Distancing

A couple of mass-gathering events were recently held in Saskatchewan where organizers mistakenly believed that gatherings were allowed as long as attendees maintained two metres of separation. However, these types of group events are not allowed – whether or not people practise physical distancing. Any gatherings that exceed 10 people are in violation of the current public health order.

Saskatchewan residents must continue to take measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. This includes limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people – inside and outside – within an extended household group only and maintaining a minimum distance of two metres between people.

With extreme caution and under the following conditions, one or two close families may form an extended household group:
• Your families or friends must remain consistent. Do not visit different families or friends every day.
• If you are going to create an extended household group, consider if any member of the group has chronic health conditions that would put them at greater risk, or if they are in close contact with someone who could be vulnerable.
• Gatherings must follow the public health order and be no more than 10 people.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Maintain physical distancing by keeping two-metres apart.

You should always be aware of who you have been in contact with over the past two weeks. These are the people who would need to be contacted by public health if you were to test positive for COVID-19.

If you are experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath, contact HealthLine 811 or your family physician for advice on whether you should be tested for COVID-19. You can also take the online self-assessment at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.
 
General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

As of April 28, 2020, Saskatchewan has one new confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Regina region, bringing the provincial total to 366.

Seventy of the cases are considered active. Three more people have
recovered, bringing the provincial total to 291.

Currently, there are eight people in hospital – six are receiving
inpatient care, while two are in intensive care.

Of the 366 cases in the province:

138 cases are travellers;
150 are community contacts (mass gatherings included);
35 have no known exposures; and
43 are under investigation by local public health.
Overall in Saskatchewan:

38 of the cases are health care workers; however, the source of the
infections may not be related to health care in all instances.

150 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area, 75 from the Regina area, 69 from the north, 15 from the south, 11 from the central region and 46 from the far north.

30 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults.

132 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 125 are in the 40-59 age range; 68 are in the 60-79 age range; and 11 are in the 80-plus range.

51 per cent of the cases are males and 49 per cent are females.

Five deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.

To date, 28,632 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of April 26, 2020, when other provincial and national numbers were available from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 22,684 people tested per million population, which exceeds the national rate of 19,087 people tested per million population.

A Saskatchewan resident in their 80s from the Far North region has died from complications related to COVID-19. The province now has five deaths related to having been infected with the virus.

The Ministry of Health has received questions surrounding the time and process of reporting COVID-19 fatalities. It is important to record and report COVID-19 cases and death in a uniform way, to ensure all jurisdictions have a consistent approach to reporting and that the evolving science can draw from this information. COVID-19 fatalities must be confirmed by the medical health officer to ensure that the case meets the criteria in order to be documented in the epidemiological reporting tools, before they can be publicly reported by the ministry.

As of April 27, 2020, Saskatchewan has 12 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 365.

Eleven of the 12 new cases today are in the Far North and one is in the North region.

Seventy-two of the 365 cases are considered active. Recoveries remain at 288 people.

There are currently seven people in hospitals across the province. Five people are receiving inpatient care and two people are in intensive care.

Of the 365 cases in the province:
• 139 cases are travellers;
• 149 are contacts or linked to mass gatherings;
• 35 have no known exposures; and
• 42 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan:
• 38 of the cases are health care workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.
• 150 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area, 74 from the Regina area, 69 from the north, 15 from the south, 11 from the central region and 46 from the far north.
• 30 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults.
• 132 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 124 are in the 40-59 age range; 68 are in the 60-79 age range; and 11 are in the 80-plus range.
• 51 per cent of the cases are males and 49 per cent are females.
• Five deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.

To date, 28,296 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of April 24, 2020, when other provincial and national numbers are available from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 21,880 people tested per million population and exceeds the national rate of 17,812 people tested per million population.

As of April 27, 2020, 29 of the province’s Far North cases are in La Loche. The cases in the La Loche area are connected to the outbreak at the oilsands camp in northern Alberta.

Saskatchewan residents are reminded that there is a Public Health Order restricting all non-essential travel into and out of northern Saskatchewan, specifically the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.

Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Shahab has also strongly recommended against non-essential travel between communities within northern Saskatchewan.

COVID-19 is present throughout Saskatchewan and all communities are at risk. Everyone should continue to take preventative measures, including maintaining physical distancing as much as possible.

If you are experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath, contact HealthLine 811 or your family physician for advice on whether you should be tested for COVID-19. You can also take the online self-assessment tool at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-self-assessment.

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

As of April 26, 2020, Saskatchewan has four new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 353.

Three out of the four new cases today are in the North and one is in the Regina area.

Sixty-one of the 353 cases are considered active. Recoveries remains at 288 people.

There are currently five people in hospitals across the province. Three people are receiving inpatient care and two people are in intensive care.

Of the 353 cases in the province:
• 138 cases are travellers;
• 148 are contacts or linked to mass gatherings;
• 35 have no known exposures; and
• 32 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan:
• 38 of the cases are health care workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.
• 150 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area, 74 from the Regina area, 68 from the north, 15 from the south, 11 from the central region and 35 from the far north.
• 29 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults.
• 126 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 120 are in the 40-59 age range; 67 are in the 60-79 age range; and 11 are in the 80-plus range.
• 51 per cent of the cases are males and 49 per cent are females.
• Four deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.

To date, 27,884 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of April 24, 2020, when other provincial and national numbers are available from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 21,880 people tested per million population and exceeds the national rate of 17,812 people tested per million population.
 
If you are experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath, contact HealthLine 811 or your family physician for advice on whether you should be tested for COVID-19. You can also take the online self-assessment tool at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-self-assessment.

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

Measures to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Saskatchewan residents must continue to take measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. This includes limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people and practicing physical distancing.

With extreme caution and under the following conditions, one or two close families may form an extended household group:
• The families or friends must remain consistent. Do not visit different families or friends every day.
• If you are going to create an extended household group, consider if any member of the group has any chronic health conditions that would put them at greater risk, or if they are in close contact with someone who could be vulnerable.
• Gatherings must still follow the public health order and be no more than 10 people.
• Stay home if you are ill.
• Maintain physical distancing where possible.

You should always be aware of who you have been in contact with over the past two weeks. These are the people who would need to be contacted by public health if you were to test positive for COVID-19.