Estevan Mercury

Saskatchewan has seven new, confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 278, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health said Thursday. One hundred and sixty of the cases are considered active – five fewer than the day before.

The City of Estevan has added to its list of essential workers. In a news release issued Thursday afternoon, the city joined the list of governments to declare the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy as essential workers.

One home was destroyed and another suffered significant damage due to a fire in Manor on Wednesday. Members of the Manor, Carlyle and Redvers fire departments, as well as the Carlyle RCMP, were called to a garage fire just before noon.

The Government of Saskatchewan will make up to $1.5 million in emergency financial aid available to help at-risk post-secondary students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A GoFundMe campaign is underway to support a local family who lost their west Estevan home in a fire Wednesday night. Melissa MacKenzie started the campaign, “MacKenzie House Fire,” early on Thursday.

The Eclipse Downhole Solutions Estevan Bears U18 AAA hockey club has announced three more additions to their staff. The club has already hired Jeff Smith to be the head coach and general manager and Riley Hengen as the assistant coach.

For many kids, an Easter egg hunt is the activity they are looking forward to all year. In the times of pandemic, all public activities and church services are cancelled.

Premier Scott Moe announced Wednesday during a press conference there were 11 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 15 more recoveries in Saskatchewan. “The physical distancing measures that we are taking together are working,” said Moe.

The world is awash in crude oil, causing one of the largest oil shocks in history. This is happening as Saudi Arabia and Russia began an oil price war just as the COVID-19 crisis caused the greatest demand destruction in decades.

A wind warning was in effect briefly for the Estevan area Wednesday. Environment Canada issued the advisory Wednesday afternoon, but it was lifted just after 4 p.m. Wind gusts in excess of 90 kilometres per hour have been reported in Estevan.