Active coronavirus cases in children and youth continue to rise following their return to the classrooms.
According to the Ministry of Health, there were 34 active cases of COVID-19 in children and youth across the province for the week dating Sept. 21 – 27.
This is an increase from the 24 active cases reported in the same age group during the second week of school, and the 14 active cases reported in the first week back to the class.
“We always expected we would see the occasional case in the school which we have seen,” Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said Thursday during the provincial update.
Of the active cases in youth and children, 22 are in the Saskatoon zone, five are in central Saskatchewan, three are in Regina, two are in southern Saskatchewan and one is in the north.
According to Shahab, 14 schools across Saskatchewan have had cases of COVID-19 since its doors reopened.
This includes the Yorkton Regional High School where an outbreak was declared after a cluster of students tested positive for the virus. All classes have since moved online for two weeks.
Aside from the Yorkton high school, Shahab says the province hasn’t seen clusters in any other schools.
“There has been nothing unexpected,” Shahab said. “Things are working quite well but it’s important we stay the course.”
Shahab says parents should get used to “constantly adjusting” to schools’ plans, especially during the fall and winter months when cases are expected to rise as more people move indoors.
“Sometimes a whole class will need to go online. Maybe there will be situations where the whole school goes online for two weeks,” Shahab said.
“This will continue to happen, we’ll continue to monitor, and update the (Safe School Plans) guidelines as needed.”
The province will provide an update of its active cases in youth and children every Thursday. The report can be found here.
In-school testing
No students tested positive for COVID-19 following a voluntary testing blitz at three Saskatchewan high schools, says the Ministry of Health.
During the week of Sept. 14, asymptomatic testing was made available at Regina’s Campbell Collegiate, Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School and the Carlton Comprehensive High School in Prince Albert.
“There were 987 tests completed and the positivity rate was zero per cent,” said the Ministry of Health in a press release.
All students and staff are asked to stay home if they are experiencing minor symptoms.
“Preventing in-school transmission begins with preventing community transmission,” the Ministry of Health said.
Comments