Saskatchewan has topped 2,000 reported cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic was declared in mid-March. Thursday’s update from the Ministry of Health had 18 new cases of the novel coronavirus, upping the provincial total to 2,012. Six of the 18 new infections are from Saskatoon, three in the Far North West zone, two in each of the Far North East, North Central and Central East zones and one new case in the North West, Regina and South East zones.

Thursday’s report included 13 more recoveries from COVID-19 for a total of 1,845, leaving 143 cases considered to be active in Saskatchewan. Of those, seven are in hospital…six receiving inpatient care in Saskatoon and one person in the I-C-U in Regina.

Of the 2,012 cases in the province to date:

• 304 cases are travellers;
• 998 are community contacts (including mass gatherings);
• 585 have no known exposures; and
• 125 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan to date:

• 77 cases are healthcare workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to healthcare in all instances.
• 347 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults.
• 664 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 611 are in the 40-59 age range; 322 are in the 60-79 age range; and 68 are in the 80-plus range.
• 51 per cent of the cases are females and 49 per cent are males.
• 24 deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.
• There are:
  • 458 cases are from the south area (225 south west, 205 south central, 28 south east)
  • 420 cases are from the Saskatoon area
  • 365 cases are from the far north area (354 far north west, 0 far north central, 11 far north east)
  • 286 cases are from the central area (177 central west, 109 central east)
  • 285 cases are from the north area (133 north west, 83 north central, 69 north east)
  • 198 cases are from the Regina area

To date, 207,230 COVID-19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan. As of October 6, 2020 when other provincial and national numbers are available from Public Health Agency of Canada, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 144,502 people tested per million population. The national rate was 208,187 people tested per million population.

On Wednesday, 1,767 COVID-19 tests were performed in Saskatchewan.

Thanksgiving, Gatherings and Travel

With Thanksgiving weekend approaching, Saskatchewan residents are reminded that restrictions on gathering sizes remain in place. Public health orders state that indoor and outdoor gatherings may have a maximum of 30 people, as long as there is enough space to maintain a two metre separation between individuals who are not in the same household or extended household. If there isn’t enough space to maintain distancing, invite fewer people. Shared meals between non-household members are discouraged.

Non-essential or recreational travel to or from Saskatchewan is discouraged.

Further guidance on Thanksgiving is available at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/re-open-saskatchewan-plan/guidelines/fall-activity-guidelines.

Everyone should continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.