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While there aren’t any new restrictions in place, Saskatchewan’s top doctor is keeping a close eye on the recent trend for active COVID-19 cases in the province.
That number went over the 400 mark Tuesday.
In a media release, the Ministry of Health reported 44 new cases and 14 recoveries, increasing the active case total to 427.
The province was reporting 139 active cases on Sept. 30.
Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, said the rate of infection in the province has over the past week been around three cases per 100,000 people.
“We continue to see cases that are second and third generation from large gatherings (and) we have had notable superspreader events,” Shahab said during a conference call with reporters.
He said that includes the superspreader event in Prince Albert related to a church as well as parties and weddings in northern and southern parts of the province.
In the Prince Albert event, there were 60 cases in the first generation but now 107 individuals have been linked to that event in 17 communities. The investigation involves 450 contacts.
Shahab also said there have been several outbreaks declared at nightclubs.
“You can see how one single transmission event can quickly snowball into a very large impact throughout the province,” he said.
The Saskatoon area had 20 of the new cases reported Tuesday. According to the ministry, most of the new cases in that area are linked to outbreaks at bars and nightclubs.
The rest of the new cases are in the northeast (seven), north-central (five), Regina (three), northwest (three), far northwest (two), central-east (two), far northeast (one) and south-central (one) zones.
Two cases previously reported by the ministry were determined to be out-of-province residents and were removed from Saskatchewan’s total. A Saskatchewan resident who was tested out of province has been added to the province’s total.
The total number of cases being reported now stands at 2,439.
Shahab said five cases per 100,000 and 10 cases per 100,000 are thresholds at which health officials are looking.
Shahab said for the most part, there has been an increase or spike in parts of the province but then those decrease in that area.
“If we have a large number of active cases due to a defined outbreak, that’s really a situation where we can manage the situation (and) we can isolate the contacts … but if we start seeing an increase in cases without a link to a common exposure event and they keep rising, then we may have to consider local measures at that time,” Shahab said.
He also said that as of now, most of Saskatchewan can celebrate Halloween in a safe way.
“For children who are younger, go close to your house and go to a few houses that have the lights on and (are) participating,” Shahab said.
He said kids need to make sure to follow guidelines when it comes to social distancing and getting candy.
Shahab also said he understands older children and adults want to enjoy the occasion.
“(But) this is not the time to have indoor parties,” Shahab said.
The recoveries reported Tuesday increased that total so far to 1,987. To date, 25 residents of the province have died due to COVID-19 complications.
There are 18 people in Saskatchewan hospitals due to the virus.
Of that number, 16 are receiving inpatient care, with seven in the Saskatoon area, six in the north-central zone, two in the Regina region and one in the central-east zone.
Shahab said two people in hospital are in the 20-to-39 age range, four are in the 40-to-59 range, six are in the 60-t0-79 age range and four are 80 and over.
Two people — one each in Regina and Saskatoon — are in intensive care. Both are in the 60-to-79 age range.
The total number of cases comprises 1,182 community contacts, 653 cases without a known exposure, 327 travellers and 277 cases that remain under investigation.
To date, 82 cases are health-care workers.
So far, there have been 525 cases from the Saskatoon area, 472 from the south zone (227 southwest, 210 south-central, 35 southeast), 421 from the north (153 northwest, 177 north-central, 91 northeast), 414 in the far north (371 far northwest, 43 far northeast), 338 from the central zone (193 central-west, 145 central-east) and 269 in the Regina region.
There have been 842 cases in the 20-to-39 age range, 718 between the ages of 40 and 59, 446 involving people 19 and under, 357 from ages 60 to 79, and 76 in the 80-and-over range.
This month alone, there have been 215 cases in the 20-to-39 range, 130 between the ages of 40 and 59, 118 among those 19 and under, 51 involving people ages 60 to 79, and 12 among those 80 and above.
There were 2,513 tests done in Saskatchewan on Monday, increasing the provincial total so far to 235,530.