The Office of the northern Medical Health Officers for the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority confirmed saturday that there is currently contact tracing investigation underway, following the identification of new cases of COVID-19 in the northern part of the province. The cases are linked to travel between north-west Saskatchewan and Alberta.
There have been reports of a number of COVID-19 cases identified at an oil sands facility north of Fort McMurray.
In recognition that there are close connections between communities with regular interprovincial travel for work and other reasons, there is a potential for community transmission with continued non-essential travel between communities across the border.
As such, regional Medical Health Officers are advising against all non-essential travel between north-west Saskatchewan and northern Alberta effective immediately and until further notice.
We are also strongly recommending that effective immediately, all northern Saskatchewan residents self-isolate for fourteen days upon return from northern Alberta. During that period of self-isolation they should monitor themselves for any symptoms of COVID-19. These include: fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, chills, diminished sense of smell, body aches, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. They should call HealthLine 811 or their community health centre for evaluation and advice if they develop any of those symptoms.
Self-isolation is an important way of preventing COVID-19 from spreading in Saskatchewan.
For more information of COVID-19 visit: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus
