The vast majority of the 42 new cases of COVID-19 in the province on Thursday, are being linked to outbreaks in Hutterite and neighbouring communities in south west and west central Saskatchewan.
That according to Rural and Remote Health Minister Warren Kaeding, who says the SHA is working with the Hutterite leadership and safety councils as well as local RM leadership to control further spread of the virus. He says this will include aggressive testing and contact tracing, which is detecting these positive cases and will likely find many more in the days ahead. Kaeding states that the SHA has announced visits to long-term care homes in the effected areas will be temporarily restricted to outdoor visits and end of life care.
The area’s affected include the rural municipalities and Hutterite colonies in the following locations:
- Maple Creek
- Auvergne
- Biggar
- Eagle Creek
- Grandview
- Harris
- Lac Pelletier
- Newcombe
- Perdue
- Kellross
- Pleasant Valley
- Prairiedale
- Tramping Lake
- City of Swift Current
Kaeding says the government is asking everyone in the effected areas to stay in their home communities as much as possible, self isolate and get tested if you are unwell or have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive and limit group gatherings as much as possible.
Kaeding says no new public orders or closures are being made for the area, and by following current recommendations the outbreak will be able to be under control.
