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

By paNOW Staff

The latest

COVID-19 cases top 300 in Saskatchewan, no patients in ICU

Apr 13, 2020 | 2:05 PM

COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan have now reached 300 including two new cases reported today, April 13.

Of the total number of reported cases, 118 are considered active. The total recovery number is at 178, including 14 new recoveries reported today.

Premier Scott Moe said the province now has the lowest number of active COVID-19 cases since March 27.

“Now none of this is reason for complacency, but it is a reason for cautious optimism and it means we can start to think about what the process for reopening Saskatchewan will look like,” he said.

Eight people are currently in inpatient care and there are no patients in intensive care.

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Of the 300 cases, 131 are travel-related, 120 are contacts or were linked to mass gatherings, 27 have no known exposures, and 22 are under investigation by public health officials.

(Aaron Schulze/northeastnow staff)

Health care workers account for 33 cases, although there is no indication the source of infection for all of them was from work. There are 147 cases from Saskatoon, 65 from Regina, 56 are from the North, 15 from the South, 10 from the central region and seven from the Far North.

The majority of the cases involve adults but 21 involve people 19 years of age and younger.

There are 129 cases in the 20 to 44 age range, 100 in the 45 to 64 age range and 50 in the 65-plus age range.

The gender reporting shows 53 per cent of cases are males and 47 per cent females.

Four deaths have been reported.

The latest numbers in Saskatchewan. (Submitted photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

To date, the province has performed 19,804 COVID-19 tests making Saskatchewan the province with the second-highest testing rate per capita.

After reports that a nurse in Stony Rapids tested positive for COVID-19, Dr. Rim Zayed with the Athabasca Health Authority emphasized the screening process for nurses in the region are the same as anywhere else in the province and she’s confident in the health authority’s contact tracing ability.

“We are able to identify individuals who might have been exposed and ask them to isolate and monitor for symptoms, testing is done as needed.

Farming

Producers and agriculture industry workers are deemed essential during the pandemic. Occupational health and safety guidelines must be up to date and in force to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Preventative measures are:

• All travellers returning from international destinations – including the U.S. – are subject to a mandatory self-isolation order.
• Anyone identified by a Medical Health Officer as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from the date of having been exposed.
• Actively monitor for symptoms. At the first sign of cough or fever, immediately self-isolate for 14 days.
• Practice physical distancing in the workplace, including those workplaces that are outdoors. Maintain a two-metre separation between individuals.
• Wash your hands often. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissue and wash your hands immediately.
• Frequently disinfect shared surfaces and equipment like vehicles, tools, doorknobs, work benches, etc.

Price gouging

The province is reminding business owners that price gouging is prohibited during a pandemic.

Excessive pricing of products or services could lead to businesses facing regulatory action and prosecution if they’re found to have engaged in this conduct.

The practice is contrary to the province’s Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act.

“During this unprecedented time it is simply unacceptable to be price gouging,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. “Businesses or individuals in Saskatchewan found price gouging will face stiff penalties and possibly jail time. It is essential that we look out for each other and this government will protect residents of Saskatchewan from exploitation when they are trying to protect their families.”

According to the media release, businesses are permitted to still raise prices by a reasonable amount to cover the increased costs of acquiring inventory. However, if there is a grossly excessive price, a business owner may be found guilty of committing an unfair practice.

Those who see price gouging in advertisements before, during or after a transaction are urged to do the following:

1. Call FCAA’s consumer protection tip hotline at 1-877-880-5550 to provide information.

2. File a tip through FCAA’s website.

3. File a formal complaint using the FCAA complaint portal.

4. If possible, register a complaint with the supplier.

5. Consumers can also register an online complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Consumers should keep all receipts, contracts and advertisements that help demonstrate that price gouging is occurring or has occurred during the period of crisis or emergency.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow