As of May 19, 2020, Saskatchewan has seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 599. All of the new cases are in the Far North (four cases in Beauval and three in La Loche). Of the 599 reported cases, 123 are considered active.
Fifteen more people have recovered, bringing the provincial total to 470. There are currently five people in hospital – two are receiving inpatient care (one in Saskatoon and one in Regina) and three are in intensive care (all in Saskatoon).
To date, 41,606 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of May 17, 2020, when other provincial and national numbers were available from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 32,097 people tested per million population, while the national rate was 35,118 people tested per million population.
As the risk of transmission of COVID-19 has regionalized in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, the public health order has been amended to only have travel restrictions applied to the northwest region. Travel to and from all other areas of the north – commercial, domestic and recreational as outlined in the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan – is permitted starting today.
The public health order will include clarity for northwestern community leaders, residents and checkpoint staff to ensure that people can obtain essential goods and services when travelling for medical purposes. Municipalities, First Nations and recreational subdivisions that will remain under the current public health order restricting non-essential travel are: Bear Creek, Beauval, Birch Narrows, Dene Nation, Black Point, Buffalo Narrows, Buffalo River, Dene Nation, Canoe Lake First Nation, Clearwater River Dene Nation, Cole Bay, Descharme Lake, Dillon, Dore Lake, English River First Nation, Garson Lake, Green Lake, Ile a la Crosse, Jan’s Bay, Lac La Plonge, La Loche, Little Amyot Lake, Michel Village, Patuanak, St. George’s Hill, Sled Lake, and Turnor Lake.
This list will be updated as the risk of COVID-19 transmission changes.
As the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan moves into Phase 2, retail operations can now open for business. That doesn’t mean that everyone should go out simply for the sake of shopping again. Instead, go on days when there is less crowding. Please remember that it’s not business as usual, but moving forward in a new normal.