Saskatchewan reports 14th death due to COVID-19

Saskatchewan has recorded its 14th death due to complications associated with COVID-19.

In a media release Thursday, the provincial government said a person in their 70s who lived in the far north region of the province had died. The individual had tested positive for the coronavirus.

It’s the first COVID-19-related death in Saskatchewan since June 8, when the province reported two people had died.

The announcement Thursday was made the same day the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority rescinded a travel advisory regarding non-essential travel to northern Alberta.

The advisory initially was issued April 18 after a number of COVID-19 cases were detected in northwest Saskatchewan, many of which were linked to travel to northern Alberta.

The province also reported 10 new cases — four on Wednesday and six on Thursday. Seven of the new cases are in the far north, two are in the north and one is in the Saskatoon area.

Those cases increase the total in the province to date to 795.

The total number of recoveries increased to 701 after 17 more recoveries were announced Thursday.

There now are 80 active cases in the province, with 46 in the far north, 21 in the south, eight in the north and five in Saskatoon. The Regina and central areas don’t have any active cases being reported.

Three people — two in Saskatoon and one in the north — are receiving inpatient care in hospital. There also are three people in intensive care, with two in the north and one in Saskatoon.

Of the total number of cases, 478 are community contacts, 165 are travellers, 109 don’t have any known exposures, and 43 are being investigated by local public health officials.

The total includes 55 health-care workers.

There have been 334 cases in the far north, 187 in the Saskatoon area, 118 from the north, 80 from the Regina area, 64 in the south and 12 from the central region.

The total number of cases comprises 278 in the 20-to-39 age range, 249 from 40 to 59, 131 between the ages of 60 and 79, 116 involving people 19 and under, and 21 in the 80-and-over range.

There were 614 tests reported Wednesday and 689 reported Thursday, increasing the province’s total to date to 67,243.

The government didn’t hold a media conference Thursday to discuss the updated numbers.

Leader emergency room reopens

The SHA announced Wednesday that emergency services at the Leader and District Integrated Health Care Facility have resumed.

That was one of the 12 emergency rooms temporarily shut down by the SHA and converted to alternate level of care sites to protect against outbreaks in the medical facilities.

The Leader facility initially was slated to reopen June 16, but staffing issues forced the delay.

Emergency services resumed in Kerrobert on June 12, Arcola on June 16, Preeceville on June 18, Biggar and Oxbow on June 22, Davidson on June 24 and Herbert on June 25.

The SHA is still working on restoring ER service in Broadview, Radville, Lanigan and Wolseley.