Sask. sees 50 new COVID-19 cases, Moe says some Hutterite communities not cooperating

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says things need to change in the few Hutterite communities who refuse to work with the province to stop the spread of COVID-19, as the province saw a spike of 50 new cases on Wednesday.

Of those new cases, 44 came from a single Hutterite colony in the RM of Star City.

“The vast majority are cooperating and we do appreciate that. However, there are a few that are not quite as cooperative and are somewhat resistant to allowing testing,” Moe said on Wednesday. “Some are telling us that they are not willing to change some of their communal practises such as eating and worshiping together in groups that are larger than what is allowable under the public health order.

“This needs to change and needs to change immediately.”

Moe took the opportunity to speak to the over 80 Hutterite communities in the province.

“Saskatchewan has been very successful in reducing the spread of COVID-19 because we’ve all changed our lifestyle just a bit, we’ve all made the necessary sacrifices. Many have greatly reduced their travel plans, we stopped visiting our loved ones in nursing homes and long-term care centres and in hospitals, we stopped attending weddings and funerals,” Moe said. “When there was an outbreak in a community or in a hospital or even in a business or at an event, we very quickly volunteered to do the necessary testing, to do the necessary contact-tracing and to ultimately self-isolate if required to make sure we are able to get the spread of COVID-19 in this province.”

Moe said the province is ready to dedicate and rededicate the resources of the government to ensure communities can contain the outbreak.

“But it only works with everyone’s complete co-operation.”

Saskatchewan’s active COVID-19 case count sits at 322, as 22 more recoveries were also announced.

Moe said of the 322 active cases, 244 are in Hutterite communities – about 76 per cent of the active cases in the province.

“There are about 6,000 Hutterite community members across the province. With over 300 members (who have gotten sick), we are running above a five per cent infection rate in those communities. This is as high of an infection rate of anything I am aware of in North America and that is why we are taking this very seriously,” Moe said.

Moe said the province is continuing to work with Hutterite communities across the province. Moe admitted there could be instances where the government will enact powers it has under the public health order to help limit travel into communities if it is needed.

Geographically, 44 of the 50 cases were in the north region, three in the south, two in Regina and one in the central region.

Wednesday’s release did not specify what type of communal living situation led to the high number of cases in one area.

The provincial government noted 15 people are in hospital with COVID-19, with five receiving intensive care — three in Saskatoon and one in Regina.

Over the 1,268 COVID-19 cases recorded to date, 929 people have recovered and 17 people have died.

Wednesday’s case numbers are the second-highest Saskatchewan has reported in a single day. The record was set one week ago when 60 cases were reported.