All of the new coronavirus cases reported in Saskatchewan on Wednesday were in the far north, as the government extended the province’s state of emergency for an additional two weeks.
The four new cases, all in the La Loche area, bring the total in the region to 206. There have been 577 cases reported overall in Saskatchewan.
The province’s chief medical health officer said the “intense outbreak” in the northwest is on the way down.
“This is due to the significant efforts by northern leadership, by health staff, public health in the north,” Dr. Saqib Shahab said.
“This shows that with determination and coordinated effort, it can be overcome.”
Of the far north cases, 149 are active — 80 per cent of the 186 active cases in the province.
The other regions with active cases are the north (25), Saskatoon (11) and central (1).
Ten people are in hospital — four in the north and six in Saskatoon. Three people in Saskatoon are in intensive care.
Six deaths have been reported due to COVID-19.
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Government officials said the state of emergency is being extended due to the presence of the coronavirus, despite the low number or absence of any active cases in some regions of the province.
“Having few or no active cases demonstrates that personal protective measures are effective and continue to be the best defence against COVID-19,” the province said in a statement.
“All public health orders remain in effect.”
That includes current travel restrictions in the north, although Premier Scott Moe said that might change if positive cases remain low in some of those regions.
“We are able now to say that there are, for all intent and purposes, I believe no active cases in the northeast or the central areas of the northern part of this province,” Moe said.
“If these numbers hold, we will have a discussion with northern leaders, as well as with others, on (focusing) our restrictions on where they need to be and ensure the restrictions are doing what they’re set out to do, which is to curb the spread of COVID-19, and not those communities that are not currently being impacted.”
Moe said those discussions will take place after the long weekend.
He also said the province is at a “crucial moment” with more people out with warmer weather and a long weekend coming up.
“We are seeing a great many, great many more people that are out and about and there’s nothing wrong with that.
“In fact, it’s great to see so long as everyone keeps up all of the good physical distancing measures that have been working so very well thus far.”
His caution came as the province prepares for Phase 2 of its reopening plan on May 19, which allows retail stores to resume business along with some services, including hair salons and barbers to open.
It is also the first day of the health authority’s plan to resume some services, including an increase in the number of surgeries, MRI scans and CT scans.
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Eleven new recoveries were reported, bringing the number of recoveries to 385.
Here is a breakdown of total Saskatchewan cases by age:
- 79 people are 19 and under
- 204 people are 20 to 39
- 179 are 40 to 59
- 98 people are 60 to 79
- 17 people are 80 and over
Males make up 50 per cent of the cases, females 50 per cent.
Officials said 297 cases are linked to community contacts or mass gatherings, 139 are travel-related, 76 are under investigation and 65 have no known exposure.
Saskatchewan has completed 38,157 tests so far for the virus, up 462 from Tuesday.
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
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. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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