The Saskatchewan government reported the province’s 19th COVID-19-related death as it gave an update on new cases on Thursday.
The deceased, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, was in their 70s and from the Regina region, according to a press release.
Health officials said there were 11 new cases in the daily update, with the overall total for the province growing to 1,387 since the first case was reported in March.
Most of the new cases are located in the south-central with nine, while the other two were in the Saskatoon and south-west zones, according to a press release. Health officials said 10 of Thursday’s reported cases are people living in “communal living settings.”
Thirteen people are currently in hospital — seven are receiving inpatient care and six are in intensive care.
Thirty-one more people have recovered, bringing total recoveries to 1,164.
There are currently 204 active cases in the province, health officials said. Active cases are total cases less recoveries and deaths.
To date, nearly 106,020 tests have been carried out in the province.
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. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. In some provinces and municipalities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.
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