Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, announced on Monday, April 20 that Saskatchewan was down to 74 active cases of COVID-19.
Shahab said during the daily update press conference it is important to recognize that due to the people of Saskatchewan’s efforts, the curve remains flat. “We are managing to keep the curve flat and actually bend it downwards, so that is reassuring,” Shahab added. “While that is very reassuring, it still means that we have to continue what we’ve been doing.”
Shahab said residents can continue to enjoy the spring and summer weather coming to Saskatchewan, but to continue practising physical distancing to minimize continued transmission of the virus.
Shahab also further reported that the province will continue to look at other activities that will be allowed in the province as the numbers of active cases continue to drop. “I’m sure there will be some look at what other activities can be allowed that lets us enjoy summer and lets us participate in other economic activity,” said Shahab. “We should understand that until such time that there is an effective vaccine or treatment, we will have to maintain physical distancing.”
Shahab said the virus certainly has not gone away in Saskatchewan and will not for weeks or months. He added continuing to practise the habits that have kept the province’s numbers low is important until treatment or high levels of immunity have been reached.
Four additional people have now recovered from the virus, bringing the total to 238.
Currently, there are four people in hospital. Of those cases, three are receiving inpatient care and one is in intensive care.
Of the 316 cases in the province, 134 are travel related, 132 are contacts or linked to mass gatherings, 30 have no known exposures and 20 are under investigation by local public health.
To date, 24,412 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. Saskatchewan currently has four deaths related to the virus.
