Sask. reports 18 new COVID-19 cases, 13 in Far North

There are 18 new cases of COVID-19 in the province, according to a release from the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Thirteen of the new cases are in the Far North.

Most are connected to a wake on June 10 and a funeral on June 11 that were the subject of a precautionary health advisory issued by the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority and the Saskatchewan Health Authority on June 11.

Three of the new cases are in the Saskatoon region. Two cases are individuals who tested positive in Saskatchewan, but who live out of province. These cases are under further investigation.

“While our numbers had been lower over the last few days, this increase is a reminder that COVID-19 is still in Saskatchewan,” said Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer Dr Saqib Shahab. “Large public gatherings increase the risk of transmission. Everyone should continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including physical distancing.”

There is currently one person in inpatient care in the North and one person in intensive care in Saskatoon.

Of the 683 reported COVID-19 cases in the province, 41 are considered active. A total of 629 people have recovered.

Of the 683 cases:

• 146 cases are travellers;
• 409 are community contacts (including mass gatherings);
• 80 have no known exposures;
• 48 are under investigation by local public health
• 51 per cent of the cases are females and 49 per cent are males.
• 13 deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date

To date, 56,223 COVID-19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan.

Gathering Sizes

The revised Places of Worship Guidelines apply to all worship services, including celebration of life, weddings and outdoor ceremonies. No food is to be served in any of these allowed gatherings and physical distancing measures still apply.

Virtual services remain the recommended option for these services.

Restrictions remain in place for gatherings that are not worship services or graduations.

All other public and private gatherings sizes remain at a maximum of 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors, while maintaining a two-metre physical separation both indoors and outdoors.