The Government of Saskatchewan at its March 20 press conference.(submitted photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

By paNOW Staff

COVID-19

Two presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Prince Albert

Mar 20, 2020 | 3:05 PM

Prince Albert has its first presumptive cases of COVID-19.

The province’s Chief Medical Health Officer said they were two individuals in their 60s who tested in Prince Albert following travel from Arizona.

They are two of six new presumptive cases in the province. The other four tested positive in Regina, three of which were following international travel.

To crack down on self-isolation enforcement in the province, Premier Scott Moe said he has signed an order into law that orders of the Chief Medical Health Officer must be followed and permits law enforcement agencies to enforce those orders. He said he was concerned individuals are not following the 14-day isolation policies after returning from international travel.

“I know that the vast majority of Saskatchewan people are taking their personal responsibility seriously and following this order,” Moe said. “But a few are not. This is not a suggestion. It is not a guideline. It is the law and must be followed.”

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A ‘civil emergency’ alert issued through SaskAlert on Friday afternoon said violation of the order could result in a fine of $2,000.

The following measures are effective immediately according to the province:

Public gatherings of more than 25 people in one room are prohibited except where two metre distancing between people can be maintained; workplace and meeting settings where people are distributed into multiple rooms or buildings; and retail locations (ie. grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations).

• The closure of all nightclubs, bars, lounges and similar facilities. Take out of alcohol or food products so permitted with two metre distancing between customers and the delivery of alcohol or food products.
• In-person classes in all primary and secondary educational institutions both public and private are suspended.
• Visitors to long-term care homes, hospitals, personal care homes, and group homes shall be restricted to family visiting for compassionate reasons.

Mandatory Self-Isolation

• Effective immediately, all persons that have travelled internationally shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from date of arrival back into Canada.
• Health Care workers who have traveled internationally, truckers, rail, airline or other working crews are exempt from this advisory only if they are required to work to maintain essential services, provide emergency health care services and maintain supply chain, and are supervised by Infection, Prevention Control Officers and/or Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace.
• All persons who have been identified by a Medical Health Officer as a close contact of a person or persons with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from the date of last having been exposed to COVID-19.
• All persons who have become symptomatic while on mandatory self-isolation shall call HealthLine 811 and follow HealthLine’s directives.
• All persons who are household members of a person having laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 shall immediately go into mandatory self-isolation, call HealthLine 811 and follow HealthLine’s directives.

Effective March 23, 2020

• The closure of restaurants, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, bistros and similar facilities. Exceptions are take out with two metre distancing between customers during pick-up; drive through food services; delivery of food products; soup kitchens, not-for-profit community and religious kitchens with two metre distancing between tables.
• The closure of all recreational and entertainment facilities including fitness centers, casinos, bingo halls, arenas, curling rinks, swimming pools, galleries, theatres, museums and similar facilities.
• The closure of all personal service facilities including tattooists, hairdressers, barbers, acupuncturists, acupressurists, cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, manicurists, pedicurists, suntanning parlours, relaxation masseuses, facilities in which body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services.
• The closure of dental, optometrist, chiropractic, registered massage therapy and podiatry clinics except for non-elective procedures.
• All daycare facilities are limited to maximum of eight children unless they can configure the facility so that a maximum of eight children are kept in room and be in accordance with the Saskatchewan child care guidelines for care.
• All daycares that are co-located with a long-term care or personal care home that meet the above restriction shall be segregated with a private entrance so that there are no shared common areas with the home and no interaction between daycare children and residents of the facility.

Including the two presumed cases in Prince Albert, there are currently six new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. That brings the total amount to 26 cases, eight of which are confirmed and 18 of which are presumptive.

Public health officials are completing contact investigations on all of the cases:

• An individual in their 20s was tested in Regina following travel to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
• An individual in their 20s was tested in Regina following travel in the U.S.
• Two individuals in their 60s were tested in Prince Albert following travel from Arizona.
• An individual in their 50s was tested in Regina following travel to Jordan.
• An individual in their 60s was tested in Regina.

SHA In-hospital Lab Collection sites closing

With the ongoing escalation of COVID-19 activities, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Laboratory Medicine Provincial Program is closing in-hospital lab collection sites to ensure that staff and resources are being prioritized effectively.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority will close the following in-hospital collection sites effective Monday March 23, 2020 at 7:00 a.m.:

• General Hospital, Regina

• Pasqua Hospital, Regina

• Wascana Rehab Centre, Regina

• Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon

• St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon

• Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert

• Battleford Union Hospital, North Battleford

• F.H. Wigmore Hospital, Moose Jaw

• Lloydminster Hospital

Patients can access a community collection site as identified below:

• Patients in Regina and Saskatoon are being directed to a LifeLabs location

• Patients in Prince Albert are being directed to the South Hill Mall,

• Patients in North Battleford will be directed to the Frontier Mall

• Patients in Moose Jaw are being directed to the Crescent View Clinic

• Patients in Lloydminster are being directed to go to the Dynacare location