Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab. (Evan Radford/980 CJME)
New Numbers

Province reports 18 new cases of COVID-19, most of which are connected to funeral, wake in the Far North

Jun 16, 2020 | 8:12 AM

There are eighteen new cases of COVID-19 in the province, 13 of which are located in the Far North region.

The latest tally brings the provincial total to 683.

Most of the cases are connected to a wake on June 10 and a funeral on June 11. Both were the subject of a precautionary health advisory issued by the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority and Saskatchewan Health Authority on June 11.

Health officials are again reminding the public how important it is to maintain physical distancing practices to minimize the transmission risk of COVID-19. All those who attended those events are asked to immediately self-isolate and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days from the date they attended.

Three of the new cases are in the Saskatoon region. Two cases are individuals who tested positive in Saskatchewan, but live out of province. Those cases remain under investigation.

“While our numbers had been lower over the last few days, this increase is a reminder that COVID-19 is still in Saskatchewan,” Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said in a provincial media release. “Large public gatherings increase the risk of transmission. Everyone should continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including physical distancing.”

Of the total cases in Saskatchewan, 41 are considered active. There are 629 individuals who have recovered from the virus.

One person is in inpatient care in the North and one person is in the intensive care unit in Saskatoon.

Of the 683 cases, 146 are travellers, 409 are community contacts (including mass gatherings), 80 have no known exposures, and 48 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall across the province 52 cases are health care workers, although not all may have sourced their infections at work. There are 277 cases in the Far North, 181 in the Saskatoon area, 112 from the North, 80 from the Regina area, 19 from the South, and 12 from the Central region.

The latest numbers of COVID-19 across Saskatchewan as of June 15. (submitted photo/SHA)

There are 104 cases involving people aged 19 and younger. The remainder are adults.

There are 240 cases in the 20 to 39 age range, 207 in the 40 to 59 age range, 114 in the 60 to 79 age range, and 18 in the 80-plus age range.

Fifty-one per cent of cases are females, and 49 per cent are males.

Thirteen deaths from COVID-19 have been reported to date.

To date, 56,223 tests for the virus have been performed in Saskatchewan.

Places of worship gatherings

The new revised places of worship guidelines apply to all services including celebrations of life, weddings and outdoor ceremonies. It is not permitted to serve food at any gatherings and physical distancing measures still apply.

Virtual services remain the recommended option. All other gatherings remain at a maximum of 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors while maintaining a two-metre separation between all individuals.

Testing

If you are working outside the home or are returning to work as part of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, you are eligible for testing.

You are also eligible for testing if you are admitted to acute care for more than 24 hours, including for expectant mothers, are immunocompromised, or providing care for an immunocompromised individual.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

View Comments