Sask. reports 26 new COVID-19 cases, outbreak declared at P.A. hospital

Saskatchewan announced Friday it had recorded its second-highest single-day total of new COVID-19 cases.

The provincial government revealed there were 26 new cases in Saskatchewan – the highest number since there were 30 cases announced on March 28.

The total number of cases to date is 415.

Of the new cases, 19 are in the far north region (La Loche and surrounding area), four are in the north (including three in Lloydminster) and three are in the Saskatoon area.

There are 112 active cases in Saskatchewan. That comprises 68 in the far north, 23 in the north, 14 in Saskatoon, six in Regina and one in the central region.

Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab called the number of new cases in the La Loche area “alarming,” but he did point out the increase could be the result of the measures health officials have put in place to contain the outbreak in that area.

“You also have to recognize that this is the product of very aggressive contact tracing and very aggressive testing … Teams are going door to door, house to house, screening, testing and so you’re finding more cases than you would have found otherwise,” Shahab said during a media conference.

He suggested some of the reasons measures that have worked in the rest of the province haven’t worked in the north could be barriers in terms of understanding the issues, like language, and barriers in accessing testing sites.

Shahab explained that when there’s an outbreak, you have to assess it in the setting and context. Normally health officials would expand testing and do aggressive contact tracing, but in the case of La Loche, those haven’t been sufficient, so health-care workers have started doing door-to-door testing.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is asking staff members to consider reassignment to that area to help with the increased testing workload.

“The enhanced testing approach involves an anticipated 19 mobile testing teams each comprised of two clinical staff and one local staff member going door to door to over 750 households to support active case finding and household screening in La Loche, Clearwater River Dene Nation, Black Point and Garson Lake,” the SHA said in a media release.

The SHA also said it expects an outbreak to be declared in the village of Beauval soon.

Re-Open Saskatchewan

Despite the jump in cases this week, the first phase of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan is to start Monday.

When asked why, given the recent case numbers, Health Minister Jim Reiter pointed out the current outbreaks are very localized.

“I think it’s important when there is an issue in a particular area that we jump on it immediately, that we do all the testing and tracing possible so that it can be held in a particular region,” said Reiter.

Shahab said the plan will move ahead because of the numbers in the majority of the province.

“When things are quiet (and) the curve is flat, it’s not responsible to not reopen activity because that is essential as well … You can’t pause things indefinitely either,” said Shahab.

Shahab did say the outbreaks in the north are a warning that COVID-19 can come back quickly, so as things open, businesses need to make sure they’re adhering to the public health guidelines, and people need to continue to physically distance.

On Friday, the province released more details about the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, including more guidance for malls and for things like drive-in and remote worship, golf courses and individual outdoor activities.

The updates can be seen below.

The hospital in Prince Albert

The SHA declared an outbreak at Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital on Friday.

In a media release, the SHA said it was investigating contacts of a patient who tested positive at the facility.

There’s only one case, but the SHA said medical health officer Dr. Khami Chokani deemed it an outbreak because of the length of time the patient stayed in the hospital without knowing their condition.

The SHA said the patient initially was admitted to the hospital on April 21 for a non-COVID-19-related medical need. The patient had tested negative before arriving at the hospital, but then tested positive on Thursday of this week.

Staff who were in close contact with the patient are self-isolating, which has resulted in what the SHA called “service changes” because of the decreased staffing levels. As a result, one patient has been transferred from the hospital’s intensive care unit to one in Saskatoon.

The emergency room at the Victoria Hospital remains open.

A look at the numbers

Two more people have recovered in the province, increasing that number so far to 297. Six people have died to date.

There are 10 people in hospital, including seven who are receiving inpatient care (four in the north region and three in Saskatoon) and three who are in intensive care in Saskatoon.

A total of 40 health-care workers have contracted the virus to date, although not all of them did so in work settings.

There have been 156 cases in the Saskatoon area, 81 in the north, 77 from the far north, 75 in the Regina area, 15 in the south, and 11 from the central region.

The total number includes 151 cases who are in the 20-to-39 age range, 139 who are between the ages of 40 and 59, 73 in the 60-to-79 range, 39 who are 19 or under, and 13 who are in the 80-plus range.

There were 715 tests done Thursday, raising the provincial total to date to 30,357.

Travelling in the north

The government put in place a restriction on non-essential travel in northern Saskatchewan on Thursday.

On Friday, the province reminded residents that the only people who should be travelling to the region are people returning to their primary residences, and people going to La Ronge or Stony Rapids.

People are reminded not to travel between communities or even stop between them.

Trips for essential goods and services that aren’t available in one’s home community are permitted. Physical distancing requirements in the stores must be followed.

Outings should be limited to one person per household.

Only members of the same household should be in the same vehicle, and carpooling or ride-sharing is discouraged. If carpooling is necessary, physical distancing should be practised.

“Communities without grocery stores are encouraged to create bulk purchasing plans with its members in order to limit travel,” the government said in its release. “Communities should also work with their regional partners to facilitate efficient critical travel to and from hubs for items such as groceries and medication.”

— With files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick