Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab. (Evan Radford/980 CJME)

By CKOM News Staff

COVID-19 update

Saskatchewan reports four new COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 20

Mar 19, 2020 | 2:51 PM

Saskatchewan has recorded four new presumptive cases of COVID-19, bringing the province’s total so far to 20. One of those was in Southend in the north and related to the first case reported there on Saturday. Two others were listed as ‘south’ excluding Regina, and the other as ‘central’ excluding Saskatoon, and were related to travel. No other specific information on location was given.

In a media release Thursday, the government said eight cases now have been confirmed by the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg while 12 of the cases remain presumptive.

Nineteen of the 20 cases are well enough to self-isolate at home. One of the presumptive cases is in hospital for medical reasons that aren’t related to COVID-19.

Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s chief medical health officer, is to hold a media conference at 2:30 p.m. It can be heard live here.

On Wednesday, the provincial government declared a state of emergency as it looks to stop the spread of the virus. It set out a number of steps in that vein, including:

OVERCOME CANCER

'I just want to get better': Breast cancer survivor joins CIBC Run for the cure to raise funds and hope

1h ago

Plans in place

Construction begins on permanent Humboldt Broncos memorial

Oct 05, 2024

Big Win Over La Ronge

North Stars shine against the Ice Wolves

Oct 05, 2024

• Prohibiting public gatherings larger than 50 people;
• Closing all gyms, fitness centres, casinos and bingo halls; and,
• Limiting all restaurants, bars and event venues seating to 50 per cent of capacity or up to a maximum of 50 people, whichever is less. The venues must be able to ensure social distance of one to two metres between customers. Grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations are exempt from this policy but must have processes to maintain a one- to two-metre separation between customers.

Travellers who are returning to Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days, as are people who have been in close contact with a person with COVID-19. So are individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 but are well enough to stay at home.

“If a member of your household is self-isolating, they should make every effort to stay apart from the other members of that household,” the government said in a media release. “This includes separate sleeping areas and bathrooms, if possible.”

Those who are sharing living space with someone who is self-isolating are required to self-monitor, which means watching for symptoms such as a fever or cough. If those symptoms develop, self-isolation is necessary.

The province has an online self-assessment tool for those who are wondering if they need to be tested.

Editor’s note: this story was amended to include the regional location of three of the four new presumptive cases.

panews@jpbg.ca