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Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer signed a public health order Friday restricting all non-essential travel into the northern part of the province due to COVID-19.
Dr. Saqib Shahab spoke with the mayor of La Loche and other northern leaders before signing the order. Shahab also recommended that all non-essential travel between communities within northern Saskatchewan be stopped.
The order came the same day the province announced 10 new cases of COVID-19 – six of which were recorded in the far north.
Since Monday, the number of cases in that area of the province has increased from 11 to 28.
“Our government has already taken significant action to respond to the situation in La Loche and we are taking further action today,” Premier Scott Moe said in a media release.
“I have spoken with La Loche Mayor Robert St. Pierre and several other people in the community and we will continue to work closely with northern leaders to protect the north.”
Checkpoints already have been set up by northern leadership along all highways leading into northern Saskatchewan. Those groups will provide staff for the checkpoints, but the provincial government has offered firefighting crews to provide support if needed.
Moe has directed that the school in La Loche and work-camp trailers from the Public Safety Agency be used to help individuals who need to self-isolate.
The government has taken steps to deal with an outbreak of the coronavirus at La Loche’s long-term care centre.
The province has sent a portable testing unit to the town to increase testing capacity and shorten the turnaround time for test results, the Saskatchewan Health Authority has sent additional personal protective equipment to the long-term care centre, and two emergency service officers from the Public Safety Agency have been sent to the town.
A look at the numbers
The 10 new cases announced Friday raised the total to date to 341. All but one of those cases has been confirmed.
It’s the first time since April 8 that Saskatchewan has reached double digits in new cases. It announced 11 cases that day.
Ten more people have been declared recovered, moving the provincial total to date to 280. Four people have died to date in Saskatchewan.
There now are 57 active cases in the province.
There are five people in hospitals in Saskatchewan. Three people – one in Regina, one in Saskatoon and one in the north — are receiving inpatient care. Two people are in intensive care in Saskatoon.
The 341 cases includes 145 who are contacts or have been linked to mass gatherings, 136 are travellers, 34 don’t have any known exposures, and 26 are under investigation by local public health officials.
The number of health-care workers who have been infected remained steady at 36.
In addition to the cases in the far north, 150 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area, 73 are from the Regina area, 64 live in the north, 15 live in the south and 11 are from the central region.
In terms of ages, 121 cases are in the 20-to-39 range, 117 are between the ages of 40 and 59, 66 are between 60 and 79 years of age, 26 are aged 19 or under, and 11 are in the 80-and-over range.
The 26,586 COVID-19 tests performed in the province to date include 714 on Thursday.
NDP leader wants answers
Opposition Leader Ryan Meili said Friday that he wants the Legislature recalled to ensure democratic oversight of the government’s handling of the pandemic.
He also has raised questions about the government’s Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, including the readiness of the health-care system, plans for child care for people who are to return to work, the supports available for businesses, and the guidelines for families to visit while maintaining their distance.
“We have good reason to be optimistic, given how well Saskatchewan people have managed the restrictions that were asked of them,” Meili said in a media release. “But the pandemic is not over.
“The questions we’re asking about the province’s plan need serious answers if we’re to avoid serious problems in our handling of this pandemic. It is time for the Premier to face the legislature and start answering these questions.”
Restrictions remain in place
The government reminded residents that despite the release of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan Thursday, gatherings remain limited to a maximum of 10 people.
However, the government’s release noted that “one or two close families may form an extended household group.”
Residents are reminded that they shouldn’t visit different families or friends every day, that participants shouldn’t include anyone with chronic health conditions who could be at greater risk, and physical distancing must be maintained where possible.
More to come.