Rosthern doctor announces he has COVID-19, hospital and clinic shut down

In a Facebook post on Saturday afternoon the Rosthern Medical Clinic confirmed it was not able to provide in-person consultations, after an earlier post suggested one of their doctors had contracted COVID-19.

“The physicians of Rosthern Medical Clinic will continue to provide phone consultations to their patients,” the post read. “The clinic staff are available by phone during regular hours to help facilitate these phone consultations.”

The post details where people can go in case of emergency including Warman, Saskatoon or Prince Albert.

The post does not specify why the change to phone consultations was made.

Earlier Saturday a post on the page from Dr. Jess Melle shared that he and his wife had contracted COVID-19.

“It is with a heavy heart that I need to confirm my wife and I have contracted COVID-19 from recent travel to Alberta,” the post said.

“I want to assure you that throughout the last week myself and my colleagues followed the guidance of the Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Federal Governments on appropriate social distancing and safe practices regarding transmission of the virus,” he continued.

650 CKOM has reached out to Melle for comment.

Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation also shared the information with their band members, encouraging anyone who attended the clinic or hospital on or after March 16 to immediately self isolate for 14 days and to contact 811 Health Line.

“At this point, there are no further confirmed or presumptive cases in our communities,” the post reads.

“Our EMT will continue to closely monitor the situation.”

On Thursday the president of the Saskatchewan Medical Association, Dr. Allan Woo confirmed he tested positive for the virus.

He believes he contracted the virus at a curling bonspiel March 11-14 in Edmonton that he said attracts 50 to 60 doctors from across Western Canada.