Premier Scott Moe announced on Monday Saskatchewan has now hit 300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 178 having been reported as recovered.
“Today’s case numbers continue to show what we are doing in this province is working,” said Moe.
“Together, we are flattening the curve,” he added.
To date, 59.3 per cent per cent of total cases have recovered. Moe pointed out the number of 118 active cases is the lowest in the province since March 27.
“None of this is a reason for complacency,” said Moe.
“But it is a reason for cautious optimism. It means we can start to think about what the process of reopening Saskatchewan will look like,” he added.
Moe said the province is working to develop the reopen Saskatchewan plan, which he hopes will be released next week.
He added the province will be deploying GeneXpert systems across the province. The GeneXpert units provide results on location in under four hours without the swabs having to be submitted to the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory.
Moe said one of the units is already up and operating in Meadow Lake, another will be running in Prince Albert and additionally about a dozen communities throughout Saskatchewan will receive them.
“This should help us achieve our goal of 1,500 tests per day by the end of the month,” said Moe.
Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab reiterated while most people are staying home, healthcare workers are moving forward and working. He added any steps that can mitigate risk to themselves and to patients in the coming days will remain very important.
To date, Saskatchewan has 300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province. Of those, 131 are related to travel, 120 are community contacts or linked to mass gatherings, 27 have no known exposures and 22 are under investigation by local public health.
Thirty-three cases are healthcare workers, 147 cases are from the Saskatoon area, 65 from the Regina area, 56 from the north, 15 from the south, 10 from the central region and seven from the far north.
To date, Saskatchewan continues to have the second highest rate of testing per capita among provinces with 19,804 tests performed.
Case surveillance and testing information, including regional locations of cases, is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19. Public inquiries may be directed to [email protected].
Farms are Essential Workplaces
With seeding coming, all producers and agriculture industry partners who serve those producers must ensure their occupational health and safety guidelines are up to date and in force to prevent the transmission of respiratory illnesses.
Follow all preventative measures to stop the transmission of COVID-19 in your yard, shop and field.
The following is applicable to all Saskatchewan residents:
• 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 a 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.
For more information on COVID-19 and agriculture, including access to the Farm Stress Line, visit https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/agriculture-natural-resources-and-industry/agribusiness-farmers-and-ranchers/sask-ag-now/covid-19-information-for-producers-and-agribusiness/support-for-producers-covid-19
Even with mild symptoms, people stay home if they can. Everyone must play their part to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, no matter the size or location of their community.
