Latest COVID update Oct. 26

Saskatchewan reported 54 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the province’s third straight day with more than 50 cases.

The new cases reported Monday increased the province’s total to date to 2,783.

The north-central area recorded 15 cases, followed by the Saskatoon (13), Regina (nine), central-east (nine), far northwest (two), far northeast (two), northwest (two), northeast (one) and southeast (one) zones.

It’s the sixth time in the last eight days that Saskatchewan has had at least 50 cases.

The number of active cases now stands at 650. That number was 139 on the last day of September.

There were 23 recoveries reported Monday, increasing that number so far to 2,108. To date, 25 residents of the province have died after testing positive for COVID-19.

There are 23 people in hospital, with 18 receiving inpatient care. That number includes nine individuals in the north zone, seven in the Saskatoon area and two in the Regina region.

Four people are in intensive care in Saskatoon, with one in ICU in Regina.

So far, there have been 636 cases from the Saskatoon area, 521 from the north (167 northwest, 243 north-central, 111 northeast), 487 in the south zone (228 southwest, 211 south-central, 48 southeast), 434 in the far north (381 far northwest, 53 far northeast), 366 from the central area (196 central-west, 170 central-east) and 337 in the Regina region.

The locations of two cases are pending.

The total comprises 1,365 community contacts, 715 cases without any known exposures, 353 cases that are being investigated, and 350 travellers.

To date, 87 health-care workers have contracted the virus.

There have been 992 cases in the 20-to-39 age range, 796 between the ages of 40 and 59, 540 involving people 19 and under, 376 from ages 60 to 79, and 79 in the 80-and-over range.

There were 2,332 tests done Sunday, increasing the provincial total to date to 250,241.

As of Sunday, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 169,663 people tested per million people of population. The national rate was 255,485 people tested per million population.

Halloween Guidelines

The province reminded people there are guidelines in place for Halloween on Saturday.

“Don’t attend or host large events that exceed gathering size limits under current public health orders or Re-Open Saskatchewan guidelines,” the Ministry of Health said in its media release. “This includes house parties, public events and pub crawls.

“Activities that do not follow public health orders or Re-Open Saskatchewan Guidelines have been shown to be possible ‘superspreaders’ and hosts/businesses can be fined under the Public Health Act.”

The province has set out its guidelines for trick-or-treating, haunted houses and pumpkin patches in its Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.