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The Saskatchewan government reported the biggest provincial spike in COVID-19 cases to date on Saturday with 18 new positive tests, bringing province-wide cases to a total of 44.
In a release, the government noted one case involved a person under the age of 20. Men accounted for 65 per cent of the cases announced.
According to the regional breakdown on the Saskatchewan government’s website, the majority of cases are in Saskatoon and Regina with 18 each. There are four cases in central Saskatchewan excluding Saskatoon, two in the south outside of Regina and two in the province’s north.
Unlike in previous updates, the province didn’t specify how many of the new cases were travel related.
The uptick in cases more than doubles the previous biggest jump in coronavirus cases in Saskatchewan. The previous record was noted on Wednesday when eight cases then doubled the provincial total.
The 18 new cases also come a day after Premier Scott Moe and Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab announced sweeping orders to close dine-in services and various service providers to prevent potential transfers of the virus. Moe also announced 14 day self isolation periods were mandatory for people returning from international travel, and those caught not adhering to the self isolation could face fines of $2,000.
In addition to the new cases, the province also announced the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory (RRPL) now has the ability to confirm COVID-19 diagnoses. This means tests will no longer have to be sent to the national laboratory in Winnipeg for confirmation.
The laboratory is processing 456 COVID-19 tests a day, which the province said will speed up results for doctors and patients.
During a teleconference with reporters on Saturday, Dr. Shahab once again urged people to avoid all group gatherings — noting 11 of 22 healthcare workers who attended a curling bonspiel last weekend in Edmonton have tested positive for COVID-19.
He called the outbreak “sobering” for health professionals.
“This is a startling reminder of the risk in gatherings,” he said. “We are not immune to this virus in social settings.”
He added one of the new cases may have been contracted at a funeral.
Shahab also stressed that while the province is ruling out gatherings of 25 or more people, any gathering should be avoided if two metre separation can’t be maintained.
“Avoid any gathering where you’re passing things amongst yourselves,” he said.
In addition to the new cases, the province also announced the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory (RRPL) now has the ability to confirm COVID-19 diagnoses. This means tests will no longer have to be sent to the national laboratory in Winnipeg for confirmation.
The laboratory is processing 456 COVID-19 tests a day, which the province said will speed up results for doctors and patients.
Next several days crucial to determining community transmission
Shahab noted of Saskatchewan’s 44 positive cases, investigations into three of them haven’t resulted in any discovery of a connection to travel or another COVID-19 case.
He said it’s “greatly concerning” that they cannot find a link.
“If those dots are not connected in the next two or three days, we will have to confirm that there is community transmission in specific locations in Saskatchewan,” he said.
He added the number of cases confirmed in the next few days could help with determining whether community transmission is happening.