There is now a confirmed case of COVID-19, the disease caused by novel coronavirus, in Saskatchewan.
This is the official number reported Sunday on the government’s website and confirmed by laboratory tests.
The site also states there are five presumptive cases in the province.
According to the government’s website, 499 people have had been tested as of March 13, with 452 negative results and 44 pending.
Cases are confirmed after testing at the Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg.
Presumptive cases are those that have tested positive at a provincial public health laboratory. For Saskatchewan, that is the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory in Regina.
Four new presumptive cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Saskatchewan on Saturday night.
Three of those presumed to have the virus are in Regina and two are in the same household.
One of those in the household was recently in Vancouver at a dental conference with someone who was later confirmed to have COVID-19, the statement said. Both people are in their 40s and are recovering at home in isolation.
The third person is in their 20s and was recently in Tennessee.
The fourth confirmed case is a health-care worker in northern Saskatchewan who recently visited Nigeria, Germany and Alberta. The person is in their 30s.
The statement said health officials are reaching out to those who have interacted with the newly-infected people and are at risk.
The statement came just hours after the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s chief medical officer and chief medical health officer said during a news conference there were only two cases in the province.
As a result, the government is instituting new travel restrictions. All Saskatchewan residents currently abroad are urged to return home and enter self-isolation for 14 days.
Anyone returning from another part of Canada is asked to monitor their health, and be wary of coughing, a fever and extreme tiredness.
Anyone who has been outside of the province in the past 14 days should not visit hospitals or long-term care facilities, the statement said.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is immediately implementing visitor restrictions on all hospitals, clinics, continuing care facilities and community care facilities.
“For patients who are in critical care or high acuity units in SHA hospitals, visitors will be restricted to one at a time, unless extenuating circumstances exist,” the SHA statement said.
The SHA is also “suspending the services provided by community volunteers who are 65 years of age or older, in non-essential service areas.”
Concerned about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials say the risk is very low for Canadians, but they caution against travel to affected areas (a list can be found here). If you do travel to these places, they recommend you self-monitor to see whether you develop symptoms and if you do, to contact public health authorities.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. And if you get sick, stay at home.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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