Concerns about the recent cluster of COVID-19 cases in Yorkton were clearly on the mind of the chief medical health officer Monday.
Dr. Saqib Shahab spoke to reporters about the recent cluster of new cases which included 19 new cases Saturday, 15 on Sunday and 14 Monday.
He noted the cases on Saturday were linked mainly to ongoing mass-gathering and workplace investigations in Saskatoon. But many of the cases on Sunday and Monday had to do with investigations in Yorkton linked to private businesses, as well as outbreaks at a high school and a health care facility there.
According to the latest news release from the province, the initial findings suggest most recent cases may share a common source of exposure at a local fitness facility. Outbreaks were declared at Yorkton Regional High School, Pumphouse Athletic Club and Yorkton Regional Health Centre.
Despite the recent uptick Dr. Shahab did not sound overly alarmed.
“While our case numbers are higher than usual, I think the positive thing is that they are linked to defined exposure events and transmission chains,” he said. As long as they could build case contacts and follow up, he said, they could reduce ongoing transmission and get outbreaks under control more quickly.
Dr. Shahab added they were likely to find more cases in Yorkton as they start testing those who may have been in close contact to the three interlinked investigations.
He added that these types of clusters can break out anywhere in Saskatchewan. He urged people to continue to practice the things they have been doing throughout the pandemic including handwashing not going out when unwell and physical distancing. He also advised wearing a mask when indoors in public places.
When asked about a comment from the president of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce who came out publicly against mandatory mask orders, Dr. Shahab responded that what needed to be encouraged was that “all of us need to take some simple precautions”.
While they will see an increase in cases, “we don’t want to see large surges that are happening in other parts of the world.”
If indoors, and unable to maintain two-metre separation, he encouraged wearing a mask, and that was especially important going into a retail location. “Staff there are wearing a mask to protect you, and the least we can do is to wear a mask to protect others who are there to either provide services in the retail environment or in another place of business.”
