Saskatchewan reports 13 new COVID-19 cases, six more recoveries

The outbreak of COVID-19 in Hutterite communities near Maple Creek was connected to the majority of the 13 new cases announced by the Saskatchewan government on Friday.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) declared an outbreak in the two communities June 17. The SHA and Hutterian Safety Council have said they’re working together to combat the coronavirus in those communities.

On Friday, the government revealed 10 of the new cases are in the southern region of the province and are associated with that outbreak. Two of the remaining three cases are in the north and one is in the far north.

The provincial total of cases is now 772.

Six more people were deemed to have recovered, increasing that total in the province to date to 654. So far, 13 Saskatchewan residents have died due to complications from the virus.

There are 105 active cases in the province, comprising 54 in the far north, 38 in the south, nine in the Saskatoon area and four in the north. Neither Regina nor the central region of the province has an active case.

Eight people — four in the south, three in the north and one in Saskatoon — are receiving inpatient care in hospital. One person is in intensive care in Saskatoon.

Of the total number of cases, 465 are community contacts, 163 are travellers, 103 don’t have any known exposures, and 41 are being investigated by local public health officials.

To date, 55 health-care workers have contracted the virus.

The total number of cases comprises 317 from the far north, 186 in the Saskatoon area, 114 from the north, 80 in the Regina area, 63 from the south and 12 in the central region.

There have been 265 cases in the 20-to-39 age range, 246 between the ages of 40 and 59, 130 in the 60-to-79 range, 110 involving people 19 and under, and 21 in the 80-and-over range.

The 681 tests done Thursday increased the province’s total to date to 63,116.