Saskatchewan reports nine new COVID-19 cases, eight more recoveries

The Saskatchewan government has developed new maps to offer more detailed information about COVID-19 cases in the province.

In a media release Tuesday — when the government reported nine new cases and eight more recoveries — the government said one map features 13 regions that don’t have the same geographic boundaries as the previous six regions. There’s also a map with 32 smaller zones.

The nine new cases — four in Regina, two in Saskatoon and one each in the northwest, north-central and southwest regions — increase the total number of cases in Saskatchewan to date to 1,368.

The eight recoveries raised that total so far to 1,097. To date, 18 residents of the province have died after testing positive for COVID-19.

There are 253 active cases — 81 in the central region, 77 in the south, 52 in the north, 29 in Saskatoon, 10 in Regina and four in the far north.

Fourteen people are in hospital, including seven — five in Saskatoon and two in Regina — who are in intensive care. Seven people are receiving inpatient care: Three in Saskatoon, three in the southwest and one in Regina.

Of the 1,368 cases, 697 are community contacts, 359 don’t have any known exposures, 204 are travellers, and 108 are being investigated by local public health officials.

To date, 64 health-care workers in Saskatchewan have contracted COVID-19.

Of the total number of cases, 352 are from the far north zone (346 in the far northwest, six in the far northeast), 294 are from the south zone (149 in the southwest, 134 in the south-central, 11 in the southeast), 216 are from the Saskatoon zone, 221 are from the north zone (96 in the northwest, 63 from north-central, 62 in the northeast), 186 are from the central zone (158 from the central-west, 28 in the central-east) and 99 cases are from the Regina zone.

There have been 437 cases in the 20-to-39 age range, 427 between the ages of 40 and 59, 241 in the 60-to-79 range, 213 involving people 19 and under, and 50 in the 80-and-over range.

There were 688 tests performed in the province Monday, increasing the total to date to 104,279.

Possible exposure in Turtleford

The Saskatchewan Health Authority says recent visitors to the Turtleford Co-op Grocery Store may have been exposed to COVID-19.

The SHA said while the risk of transmission is considered low, it suggested those who visited the store on or after July 28 should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days from their last visit.

The SHA once again reminded residents to take precautions to limit the spread of the virus, including physical distancing, practising hand hygiene and self-isolating if they show symptoms.