Eight new pickleball courts will fill a need in Saskatoon
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Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. started in 2017 with 90 players, now they have over 1100.
Despite a 17th straight day with a single-digit total of new COVID-19 cases, the Government of Saskatchewan issued a warning Wednesday about non-essential interprovincial travel.
Premier Scott Moe pointed out Alberta and Manitoba both have rising case numbers.
“We see numbers that are rising in some of our neighbouring provinces, so if it isn’t absolutely necessary to leave, you should reconsider and maybe stay put at home here,” Moe said during a conference call after Saskatchewan reported two new cases.
It’s not a travel ban and essential travel for things like agriculture industry, transport and medical appointments have always been allowed and will continue to be.
“We’re just asking people that if you do have to leave, just be very, very vigilant in ensuring that you are keeping your contact circle as small as possible (and) abiding by all the recommendations that are in place,” said Moe.
And the premier is reminding people that when they come back, they should monitor themselves and get tested if there’s even a doubt.
Federal alert app
The premier also announced his government will be moving ahead with the federal COVID-19 alert app.
Currently, it can be downloaded in Saskatchewan but can’t be used.
“We hope to have it available for those that choose (to use it) here in Saskatchewan over the course of the next couple of weeks. And it will then be one additional tool that will be available for the people of this province to ensure that we are flattening the curve and continuing to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” said Moe.
He explained that all of the provinces are working with the federal government as to whether the app will be made available, when, and under what parameters.
Shahab urges more testing
The province’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, is making a push for more testing as the province moves into back to school.
“Throughout the coming weeks and months, get tested at the slightest sign of symptoms. Get tested if you have any concerns. That has worked well for us as many sectors have entered the workforce and I think that is going to be a guiding principle,” said Shahab.
Shahab said getting tested for COVID-19 is especially important for those who have someone in their household who goes to a school, whether it’s a student or an employee.
He said the best way to keep COVID out of schools is to keep it out of the community.
A look at the numbers
In a media release, the province said the two new cases were split between the northwest and south-central zones. Those increased the total number of reported cases to date to 1,624.
The government also said there were four more recoveries, hiking that total so far to 1,571. To date, 24 residents of the province have died after testing positive for COVID-19.
The number of active cases being reported dropped to 29.
Two people are in hospital in Saskatoon, with one receiving inpatient care and the other in intensive care.
There have been 418 cases in the south zone (216 southwest, 191 south-central, 11 southeast), 353 from the far north (347 far northwest, six far northeast), 265 in the north zone (130 northwest, 69 north-central, 66 northeast), 261 from the Saskatoon area, 195 in the central zone (161 central-west, 34 central-east) and 132 in the Regina region.
The total comprises 829 community contacts, 485 cases without any known exposures, 240 travellers and 70 cases that remain under investigation.
The total also includes 66 health-care workers who have contracted the virus.
To date, 523 cases have been in the 20-to-39 age range, 497 have been between the ages of 40 and 59, 277 have been in the 60-to-79 age range, 269 have involved people 19 and under, and 58 have been people 80 years of age or older.
There were 1,220 tests done in Saskatchewan on Tuesday, increasing the total to date to 142,126.