(ID 177520873 © Rik Trottier | Dreamstime.com)

By Jeff D'Andrea

COVID-19

Six more COVID-19 cases and six more recoveries in province; outbreaks in northern Alberta affecting Sask.

Apr 18, 2020 | 2:21 PM

Saskatchewan has six new cases of COVID-19, three confirmed and three presumptive, bringing the total to 313 cases reported to date. Six more recoveries have been reported, bringing that total to 234. There are currently 75 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.

The Far North region has two more cases, going up to 10—eight of which are active.

In the North region, which includes Prince Albert, Melfort, North Battleford and Meadow Lake, there are still seven active cases, with the total reported cases increasing by one to 59.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is “strongly recommending” that all northern Saskatchewan residents who travel to northern Alberta self-isolate for two weeks after returning.

This recommendation comes after new cases of COVID-19 surfaced in northern Saskatchewan, and have been linked to travel between the two provinces. Outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported north of Fort McMurray. The Kearl Lake oil sands facility, 70 kms north of Fort McMurray, had 10 confirmed cases as of Friday.

Murder mystery

St. Mary drama club unravels world's ultimate whodunit

5m ago

BDO Debt Solutions

Deck the Halls Without Breaking the Bank: Tips for a Budget-Friendly Holiday

23h ago

RPCN Artist

'Felt like a movie': Chris Chipak making waves in the art world

23h ago

The updated provincial COVID-19 cases, as of April 18 Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff

Of the 313 cases in the province:

• 134 cases are travel related;

• 132 are contacts or linked to mass gatherings;

• 29 have no known exposures; and

• 18 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan:

• 35 of the cases are health care workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.
• 148 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area, 70 from the Regina area, 59 from the north, 15 from the south, 11 from the central region and 10 from the far north.
• 23 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults.
• 114 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 105 are in the 40 to 59 age range; 63 are in the 60-79 age range; and eight are in the 80-plus range.
• 52 per cent of the cases are males and 48 per cent are females.
• Four deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.

To date, 23,092 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. Saskatchewan continues to have the second-highest rate of testing per capita among provinces that have reported.

Case surveillance and testing information, including regional locations of cases, is available here.

Here is the updated provincial map regarding COVID-19 cases, as of April 18. Saskatchewan Health Authority

Guidance for Drive-In or Remote Worship Services

Updated guidance has been issued for places of worship to engage with congregants while following the public health order restricting gatherings to no more than 10 people.

Services may be delivered:

• Online (via Zoom, YouTube, etc.), as long as no more than 10 people are in the place of worship at one time and all are strictly observing all social distancing protocols.
• As drive-in services where individuals remain in their vehicles with no contact between worshippers, and only individuals from the same household occupy the same vehicle.
• Drive-in services must be in designated parking lots or staging areas and also meet the following conditions:
  • Event organizers need adequate measures to keep people from leaving their vehicles while at the service.
  • Vehicles must be separated by at least two metres.
  • Access to facilities, including washrooms, is discouraged. Where washroom access must be provided, provisions must be made to ensure frequent cleaning and disinfection throughout the event.
  • Appropriate social distancing practices between persons who need to leave the vehicle to access washroom facilities is maintained at all times.
  • No food or beverage service.
  • All other services must be suspended including picnic areas and play areas.
  • Anyone who is unwell or symptomatic must remain home.
  • Event organizers are required to provide proposals and field questions from local public health officials to ensure the event does not risk transmission of COVID-19

–

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow