There are 13 new cases of COVID 19 in Saskatchewan and 12 are in the La Loche area with one other in the North region.

There have been 544 cases reported to date and 203 are considered active. There are now 19 people in hospital with 4 in intensive care. 335 people have recovered from COVID-19.

The province says it recognizes many people can’t visit their mother this Mother’s Day because of COVID-19 and because they live in a care facility. But health officials have determined that flowers from a florist and dry paper gifts like cards, letters, books, photos and artwork are allowed.

Facilities receiving the items are expected to follow the existing procedures for reducing risk of transmission of COVID-19.

Of the 544 cases in the province:

138 cases are travellers;

260 are community contacts (mass gatherings included);

56 have no known exposures; and

90 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan:

44 cases are health care workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.

179 of the cases are from the Far North, 163 are from the Saskatoon area, 100 from the North, 76 from the Regina area, 15 from the South and 11 from the Central region.

72 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults.

192 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 171 are in the 40-59 age range; 93 are in the 60-79 age range; and 16 are in the 80-plus range.

50 per cent of the cases are females and 50 per cent are males.

Six deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.

To date, 35,176 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of May 6, 2020, when other provincial and national numbers were available from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 27,184 people tested per million population, which exceeds the national rate of 26,665 people tested per million population.

Public Notification of Outbreaks

The Public Health definition of an outbreak varies by setting. For example, in long-term care and personal care homes, an outbreak is declared when one person (a resident or health care worker) tests positive for COVID-19.

We will be publicly posting outbreaks within:

Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities including hospitals, long-term care homes and integrated facilities, as well as assisted living facilities with a long-term care unit if the cases are associated with the long-term care unit;

personal care homes and homeless shelters as these include vulnerable populations; and

all correctional facilities in Saskatchewan

Public advisories will always be issued when there is a risk to the public.

The posting of outbreaks in a workplace, industrial or commercial space will be done on a case-by-case basis, when deemed appropriate and necessary. This approach balances protecting the public and ensuring the privacy of individuals and businesses.

Public notification will also occur in the absence of an outbreak being declared when there is a risk of transmission to the public.

Phase 1 of Re-Open Saskatchewan is Well Underway

Restrictions in the province are gradually being lifted in five phases. As Phase 1 of the plan moves into its second week, further information has been added to the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

The changes include:

Updates to the guidelines for appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) – page 17

Updates to the guidelines for drive-in or remote worship services – page 24

Guidelines for drive-in theatres – page 25

Guidelines for public markets and farmers markets – page 32

Updates to the guidelines for clothing and retail operations for thrift stores and businesses that sell second-hand goods – page 36

Updates to the golf course guidelines – page 42-43

Updates to the guidelines about passengers in boats – page 46

For a link to the updated Re-open Saskatchewan plan click here.