Southend, PBCN. (Cameconorth.com)

By Glenn Hicks

COVID-19

Second COVID-19 case in Southend as airline follows up for more info

Mar 19, 2020 | 2:00 PM

A second presumptive case of COVID-19 has been reported in the northern community of Southend, one of four new cases in the province. It was announced by the province’s Chief Medical Health Officer Thursday afternoon and then confirmed by the Northern Inter Tribal Health Authority (NITHA).

Meanwhile, West Wind Aviation is following up with NITHA regarding the first presumptive case identified last week.

Thursday afternoon Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka told paNOW the second presumptive case was an individual in their early 40s “who had close contact with the first case that we reported.”

“This individual is doing well, they are recovering, and currently not showing any symptoms,” Ndubuka said.

He added it was difficult to say whether more presumptive cases would arise in the community but he was confident “those who have been advised to remain in self-isolation will do so, and also continue to practise hand hygiene, cough etiquette and social distancing.”

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The initial case of COVID-19 Saturday prompted questions as to the travel arrangements of the affected person. Ndubuka told paNOW earlier this week that the local health care worker in their 30s had flown from Calgary to Saskatoon and then to La Ronge before driving to Southend. The person had a recent history of travel in Nigeria, Germany and Alberta.

They were tested in Southend on Wednesday, March 11 and the community was informed Saturday, March 14 of the positive test.

paNOW asked NITHA for information regarding which flights the person took in the period before March 11 so that passengers and crew could be informed.

Medical Health Officer Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka said by email the individual did not have symptoms while in transit on the airlines and symptoms developed after the person’s arrival in the community.

“Our current public health protocol does not support notification of the airlines at this point,” Ndubuka wrote.

As per his earlier notice to the community Saturday, Ndubuka said exposed contacts had been identified and notified and appropriate preventive measures are currently in place.

While it is not clear which airlines the affected person in Southend used, paNOW reached out to West Wind Aviation, which operates from Saskatoon to La Ronge. On Wednesday, a spokesperson said it had not been notified by health authorities that any individual with a presumptive case of COVID-19 flew on one of their aircraft. The company said it would be following up “to ensure the health and safety of our crew and passengers.”

The company added, in part, it provided their customers and community partners with information on how they plan to manage operations in the days and weeks to come and have shared the precautionary steps they are taking in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

On Wednesday, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab asked passengers onboard two Sunwing planes that had flown from Cancun and Cabo San Lucas to Regina March 14, to self-isolate and actively monitor for symptoms.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow