Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, March 24, 2020. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

By paNOW Staff

COVID-19

No new COVID-19 cases, travel restrictions soon to be lifted in northwest

Jun 2, 2020 | 3:19 PM

The Government of Saskatchewan has reported no new COVID-19 cases today. Fourteen more have recovered.

According to a media release, of the 646 reported cases, 33 are considered active. The recovery total is 602.

Premier Scott Moe said the number of active cases in the province is encouraging given that they are two weeks into Phase 2 of the Re-Open Plan.

“It shows that we can reopen businesses and can safely return to work,” he said at a press conference today.

There are currently two people in hospital. Both are in intensive care in Saskatoon.

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Of the 646 cases in the province 142 cases are travellers, 384 are community contacts (including mass gatherings), 77 have no known exposures and 43 are under investigation by local public health.

COVID-19 map in Saskatchewan. (submitted photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

Fifty-one cases are health care workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.

There are 256 cases in the province’s Far North region, 169 are from the Saskatoon area, 112 from the North, 80 from the Regina area, 17 from the South and 12 from the Central region.

There are 95 cases involving people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults. There are 230 cases in the 20 to 39 age range, 197 are in the 40 to 59 age range, 106 are in the 60 to 79 age range and 18 are in the 80-plus range.

Fifty-two per cent of the cases are females and 48 per cent are males.

Eleven deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date and 48,593 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.

Northwest Travel Restrictions Lifted Soon

Effective Monday, June 8, the public health order restricting travel for Northwest Saskatchewan will be lifted.

This will allow for travel in and out of the northwest region, and between communities.

Phases one and two of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan will also be permitted in the Northern Village of La Loche starting Monday, June 8. All other communities within the northwest are already in phases one and two.

For the entire northwest, effective June 8, outdoor gathering may increase to 20 people, however indoor gatherings must remain limited to 10 people with a two-metre separation to be maintained both indoors and outdoors.

Phase three of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan is delayed until further notice across all of the northwest region.

Health officials will closely monitor the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the northwest region prior to June 8. If case numbers or other important variables significantly change, this may delay the lifting of restrictions.

Beauval Outbreak Concluded

The COVID-19 outbreak in Beauval is now over. It was declared initially on May 1 after a number of new cases were identified there.

As of today there are no active cases in the community and there is no evidence of community transmission. Medical officials have called for an end of the outbreak declaration.

Guidelines for Saskatchewan Residents

With the next phase of the re-opening plan approaching on June 8, Saskatchewan residents should be aware of the guidelines that are in place for everyone’s health and safety.

Guidelines are available on many important issues, including child care, worship services, outdoor recreation and gyms. There is also information on cleaning and disinfecting, personal protective equipment and cloth masks.

Testing for COVID-19 is also now available to anyone currently working outside the home, or anyone returning to work as part of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan.

Beginning June 5, testing criteria will be further expanded. Testing will be offered to:

• Those being admitted to acute care for more than 24 hours, including expectant mothers.

• Immunocompromised individuals and their health care providers.

Premier Moe said restrictions will soon be addressed on how to safely increase visits to long-term care homes. The plan is to be unveiled tomorrow.

“We understand how lonely and heartbreaking it must be for our seniors who have been isolated from their family and friends for a number of weeks now,” he said.

–

—With file from Alison Sandstrom

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow