Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab and other officials at the Saskatchewan Health Authority are carefully examining the third phase rollout of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. Depending on the number of COVID-19 diagnoses, Shahab may opt to ease restrictions or return to them. (file photo/CJME News Staff)

By paNOW Staff

phase three begins this week

Two deaths from COVID-19 recorded in Far North

Jun 8, 2020 | 2:25 PM

Two residents in the province’s Far North region have died from COVID-19. One individual was in their 60s and the other was in their 70s.

Against this sombre backdrop there was also some further positive news with playgrounds set to open later in the week.

The latest reported deaths brings the total number in the province due to the virus to 13.

There are four new cases reported as of Monday, with three in Saskatoon and one in the Far North.

Of the 654 cases in Saskatchewan, 17 are considered active. There have been 624 recoveries.

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One person remains in intensive care in Saskatoon.

Across the province, of the 654 cases, 144 are travellers, 393 are community contacts (including mass gatherings), 79 have no known exposures, and 38 are under investigation by local public health.

In Saskatchewan 51 cases are health care workers, although not all may have sourced their infections from work. There are 260 cases in the Far North, 173 from the Saskatoon area, 112 from the North, 80 from the Regina area, 17 from the South and 12 from the central region.

Cases of COVID-19 across the province as of June 8. (submitted photo/SHA)

There are 98 cases involving people aged 19 years old and younger, while the remainder are adults.

There are 232 cases in the 20 to 39 age range, 199 in the 40 to 59 age range, 107 in the 60 to 79 age range, and 18 in the 80 plus age range.

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

To date, 52,229 tests for COVID-19 have been performed in the province.

Phase Three starts

The third phase of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan begins today. Effective today, restaurants and other licensed locations can operate at a 50 per cent capacity. Other personal care services that didn’t open in the last phase can open, along with gyms and other fitness facilities.

There are guidelines available for gathering at places of worship and child care facilities.

Public and private gatherings are now increased to a maximum of 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors.

Premier Scott Moe said it has always been the government’s position that in-person graduation ceremonies can occur, but they should respect public health recommendations, including the 30-person outdoor gathering limit.

“I’ve heard of numerous very innovative suggestions ranging from parades to smaller gatherings allowing graduates and their families to celebrate their important achievement,” he said.

Playgrounds and beaches

Outdoor playgrounds, beaches and associated washrooms can reopen this Friday. The government did not immediately offer further details.

“Hopefully it’s a great weekend, so families can enjoy some time at the beach, or some time at the playground,” Premier Moe said.

Travel

The travel restrictions in Northwest Saskatchewan have been lifted as of today. The Northern Village of La Loche has moved into the first two phases of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

With the reopening, the chief medical health officer and the government continue to monitor the transmission of the virus to determine whether restrictions can be further lifted or need to be put back in place.

ER’s reopening

Eight of the 12 regional emergency rooms that were temporarily closed will soon reopen. The closures were part of the health system readiness plan as the province converted hospitals into alternate level of care sites. This was to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases across the province and prevent outbreaks in medical facilities.

The target reopen dates for the hospital emergency rooms are:

• June 12 – Kerrobert
• June 16 – Leader and Arcola
• June 18 – Preeceville
• June 22 – Biggar and Oxbow
• June 24 – Davidson
• June 25 – Herbert

Those dates are subject to the status of active COVID-19 cases.

The SHA continues to work on ER resumption planning for the community hospitals in Broadview, Radville, Lanigan and Wolseley.

Domestic Flights

Information on any flights returning to Saskatchewan with a confirmed case of COVID-19 is posted on the Public Health Agency of Canada website. According to the province, two domestic flights with positive COVID-19 cases onboard were recently added to the list.

Those flights were AC 1129 from Toronto to Saskatoon on May 29 and WS 3370 from Calgary to Saskatoon on May 30.

Expanded testing

Testing for the virus is now available to anyone currently working outside the home or returning to work as part of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

Testing is also available to those admitted to hospital for acute care for more than 24 hours, including expectant mothers and immunocompromised individuals along with their health care providers.

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panews@jpgb.ca

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