(Canadian Press/file photo)

By Nicole Reis

COVID-19

COVID-19 outbreak declared in La Loche

Apr 17, 2020 | 6:06 PM

Around ten residents of a long term care home in La Loche are under observation after a staff member and a resident tested positive for COVID-19.

Earlier today, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said two additional cases in La Loche have been connected to the staff member.

“We have just been informed early this afternoon there are three additional cases, two are non-household contacts and one is, unfortunately in a long term care facility, so we have an outbreak in La Loche,” he said.

Two community members who are contacts of the staff member have also tested positive for COVID-19.

“There are about 10 residents who are being kept under monitoring, one of those residents is positive, ten of those staff who are not close contacts are being monitored.”

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Dr. Shahab said public health is actively managing the situation and the SHA will provide further details on the outbreak as they become available.

Later in the day local leaders including La Loche Mayor Robert St. Pierre, Clearwater Chief Teddy Clark, SHA staff member Jennifer Ahenakew and Dr. Rim Zayed among others, spoke to the community on local radio CHPN 88.9 FM

Between the communities of Clearwater and La Loche, total confirmed COVID-19 cases are at four, and over 30 tests are awaiting results.

“Investigating these patients was part of our contact tracing, all patients are negative except for one,” Zayed said. “The patient is healthy and has no symptoms that pose at risk but we referred the patient, after consultation with his family, to a hospital in North Battleford.”

St. Pierre confirmed one patient is an elder.

Dr. Zayed said the outbreak likely came from oil patch workers in Fort McMurray and announced effective immediately all non-essential travel from Alberta is banned.

With Files from Alison Sandstrom

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