More northern COVID-19 cases, province expands child care services

There are 10 people in hospital, with seven receiving inpatient care. Four of those patients are in Lloydminster and three are in Saskatoon.

There are three patients who are in intensive care in Saskatoon.

Of the province’s 389 cases, 137 are travellers, 159 are community contacts (including mass gatherings), 36 have no known exposures, and 57 are under investigation by public health.

Across the province, 39 people diagnosed with COVID-19 are health care workers, but the source of all infections may not be related to work.

There are 153 cases from the Saskatoon area, 77 from the North, 75 from the Regina area, 58 from the Far North, 15 from the South and 11 from the central region.

There are 35 cases involving people aged 19 or younger.

There are 141 cases in the 20 to 39 age range, 131 in the 40 to 59 age range, 70 in the 60 to 79 age range and 12 in the 80-plus age range.

Fifty per cent of those diagnosed are males, with 50 per cent females.

Six people have died from COVID-19 related complications to date.

A graph depicting the latest statistics as of April 30. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

Premier Scott Moe announced new travel restrictions for the North today, given the outbreak in La Loche.

“Our Minister of Government Relations spoke to a number of Northern leaders yesterday and a number more today, and as a result of those conversations, today we are ordering that non essential travel between northern communities is now prohibited,” he said.

Moe says La Ronge and Stony Rapids have been exempt from the restrictions at the request of their leaders.

The premier announced $350,000 to be given directly to New North, an association representing Northern communities to help staff and maintain check points.

An additional $20,000 will be provided to the village of La Loche.

“To support public safety, food security, educational initiatives that are being organized by the community to ensure that everyone is practicing safe social distancing and self isolation when required,” he said.

The premier said government officials are in discussion about how they can ship food to La Loche to prevent residents from having to leave to go shopping in other municipalities.

“There is some discussion, although it is not as simple as it might seem, but I believe our Public Safety Agency who has individuals on the ground in the community is working quite closely with the leadership in the community on a number of different challenges, that being one of them,” Moe said.

At the same press conference, in response to questions about why the SHA notified the public about an outbreak at the Lloydminster Hospital three days after they notified the Ministry of Health, Moe said more transparency is needed.

“I think there’s a responsibility for all of us, including the Saskatchewan Health Authority, to be as transparent as possible with the people of this province in particular now that we are beyond one or maybe two cases of COVID ID-ed in many of these communities,” he said.

Child care

Anybody who is working now or will be returning to work under phase one and two of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan will have access to licensed child care services within the Saskatchewan schools.

More than 2,100 spaces continue to operate as part of a reserved supply for those responding to the pandemic. The province said in a release earlier today that there is capacity to expand accessibility to other workers.

“As we move to gradually re-open Saskatchewan, we know that parents, caregivers and families returning to work will need child care support, and we are helping them by ensuring their children are safe and well cared for,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. “I want to recognize and extend my sincere appreciation to child care centres and staff who have continued to operate to provide this important service.”

The centres will operate within provincial parameters with a maximum of eight children per room.

Staying safe

The province is again reminding the public to remain vigilant when forming an extended household group:

Your families or friends must remain consistent. Do not visit different families or friends.
If you are going to create an extended household group, consider if any member of the group has chronic health conditions that would put them at greater risk, or if they are in close contact with someone who could be vulnerable.
Gatherings – inside or outside – must follow the public health order and be no more than 10 people.
Stay home if you are sick.
Maintain physical distancing by keeping two-metres apart.

—

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by paNOW Staff

More northern COVID-19 cases, province expands child care services

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