SHA believes COVID-19 cluster at Saskatoon hotel is “contained”

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) believes a cluster of COVID-19 has been controlled at a Saskatoon hotel.

The province’s top doctor, Saqib Shahab, said during Monday’s media conference that the SHA was dealing with a cluster at a Saskatoon hotel.

“We have to understand that these clusters, unfortunately, will happen. They were investigated. Precautions had been taken in terms of limiting further transmission,” he said. “My understanding is the cluster is controlled.”

Saskatoon’s Confederation Inn told 650 CKOM on Saturday about a cluster at the hotel.

The hotel owner, Brian Sawatzky, said a regular traveller from the north was diagnosed with COVID during his stay at the hotel. The visitor makes regular trips to and from Saskatoon from his home in the north, according to Sawatzky.

“He got fairly sick here one day. So we called the ambulance. (The) ambulance came and got him and we found out the next day he had COVID,” Sawatzky explained.

“He subsequently infected a couple other of his friends that were staying here.”

Sawatzky said the man and two of his friends were staying in the hotel; they all tested positive for the virus.

“It’s been quite traumatic. It’s stressful for a lot of people, particularly for the guys who have COVID,” he said. “Almost all of my staff have been tested, none of us positive.”

Following the positive diagnosis of the guests, Sawatzky contacted Saskatchewan Health. Officials later moved the infected individuals to another location in Saskatoon.

Sawatzky said his business is doing its “due diligence” in cleaning the facility, and is looking at returning business back to normal as soon as possible.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Keenan Sorokan and Adriana Christianson