Saskatchewan has new single-day high with 60 COVID-19 cases

Saskatchewan has recorded a new single-day high of COVID-19 cases.

In a media release Wednesday, the province reported 60 new cases. The previous single-day high was 42 on July 16.

The new cases — 50 in the south, four in the Saskatoon area, three in the central region, two in the far north and one in the north — increase the province’s total to date to 1,030.

The number of cases in the south region has risen from 17 on June 1 to 173 on Wednesday.

The government said 48 of the 60 new cases are from Hutterite colonies in the southwest and west-central regions of the province. Forty-three of those are from a single communal living setting in the RM of Lawtonia.

The province said there are 17 Hutterite communities with active cases in the rural municipalities of Auverge, Biggar, Carmichael, Eagle Creek, Grandview, Harris, Kindersley, Lawtonia, Maple Creek, Newcombe, Perdue, Pleasant Valley, Prariedale, Saskatchewan Landing, St. Andrews, Tramping Lake and Webb.

“This large number of cases was detected as a result of the aggressive testing and contact tracing that the Saskatchewan Health Authority has been doing at a number of communities in the province,” Premier Scott Moe said. “It’s possible that we may see similar case numbers in other communities in the very near future.”

Non-essential travel in the affected areas is to be restricted.

“This includes travel between Hutterite communities,” Moe said. “We know that there will still be some travel that will be required so it’s important for all of us in this province to not stigmatize or exclude members of this community or any other community for that fact.”

Moe said members of Hutterite communities are making the same sacrifices as others across the province.

“I’ve spoken to leaders in Hutterite communities as early as this morning who are forgoing attending a funeral of a young family member because they are in a different community,” Moe said. “The travel that has occurred between Hutterite communities would be similar to what we are seeing outside of Hutterite communities … We are asking our friends in Hutterite communities to make the very same decisions that we’re asking each and every person in Saskatchewan to make and they’re making them.”

Moe said he could invoke powers under the public health act to impose roadblocks and stay home orders if need be, but is focusing on working with the communities.

Meanwhile, there were 12 more recoveries reported, increasing that total in the province so far to 825. To date, 15 Saskatchewan residents have died due to complications from COVID-19.

There are 190 active cases — 93 in the south, 57 in the central region, 22 in the Saskatoon area, eight in the far north, five in the north and five in Regina.

It’s the highest number of active cases in the province since there were 193 on May 12.

As of Wednesday, there were 13 people in hospital in Saskatchewan. That included 10 people — six in Saskatoon, two in the south and two in the north — who were receiving inpatient care. Two people are in intensive care in Saskatoon and one is in an ICU in the south.

The total number of cases includes 532 community contacts (including mass gatherings), 189 travellers, 184 that don’t have any known exposures, and 125 that are being investigated by local public health officials.

To date, 58 cases have involved health-care workers.

There have been 344 cases in the far north, 216 from the Saskatoon area, 173 in the south, 125 from the north, 87 in the Regina area and 85 from the central region.

The total number of cases includes 349 in the 20-to-39 age range, 320 between the ages of 40 and 59, 174 aged 60 to 79, 154 involving people 19 and under, and 33 in the 80-and-over range.

There were 1,240 tests reported Wednesday, increasing the total in Saskatchewan to date to 84,916.

With testing being opened up to anyone who wants one, people have been noticing increasingly long wait-times with some reportedly waiting up to a week.

“If a person is waiting a week to have a test done, that’s too long and it’s unacceptable and we most certainly need to do better if that’s the case and we will do better,” Moe said.

Restrictions eased in Prince Albert

The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced it was easing the visitor restrictions it put in place July 8 at the Victoria Hospital and long-term care homes in Prince Albert.

Those restrictions limited visitors to family members or support people for compassionate reasons only.

“With no new positive cases (in the facilities) in more than 14 days, the SHA feels confident that we can resume the regular visitor restrictions under Family Presence Guidelines,” a media release said.

Those guidelines can be found here.