Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab. (Canadian Press)

By paNOW Staff

Provincial COVID-19 total at 134; 18 cases connected to Christopher Lake rally

Mar 28, 2020 | 1:56 PM

There are 30 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan on Saturday, bringing the provincial total to 134.

Eighteen of those cases are additional infections linked to a Christopher Lake snowmobile rally dinner hosted on Saturday, March 14.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Khami Chokani said those who are completing a contact investigation of the event don’t have a comprehensive list. On March 14, there were 250 people who attended the rally itself. Afterwards 110 attended a dinner. In their contact investigation, public health officials have contacted 76 individuals to notify them of their exposure to COVID-19.

Chokani said the investigation began after one attendee tested positive for the event on March 25. There were also three individuals who were symptomatic that attended and later tested positive for the virus, Chokani said.

During Saturday’s press conference, Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said the rally situation should serve a lesson in the importance of social distancing.

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“This really demonstrates why we have been reducing the size of gatherings in Saskatchewan,” Shahab said. “We’re really emphasizing that while we love celebrating and getting together in Saskatchewan, this is not the time. This is the time for social distancing. This is the time to remain connected through other means, but not get together as groups.”

Anyone who attended the rally and is experiencing symptoms is urged to contact public health by dialing 811.

Of the total cases in the province, six people are in hospital, with three in acute care and three in intensive care units. One of those acute care patients is located in the North.

At least seven cases are the result of local transmission while the remainder are travel-related or due to exposure at mass gatherings, the province said.

Five cases are people under age 19.

Fifty-eight cases are in the 20 to 44 age range, 49 are in the 45 to 65 years old range and 22 are in the 65-plus range.

Fifty-seven per cent of cases are males and 43 per cent are females.

Four people have recovered from the virus although there may be more cases yet to be reported to provincial health.

To date, 8,248 tests for the virus were performed at the province’s Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory.

Prince Albert is now in the North Region, after previously being classified in the Central Region of the province. The North Region has 26 confirmed cases so far.

Virtual visits

More than 25,000 people were assessed by Saskatchewan doctors over the phone in the first 10 days of the program, which launched March 13.

Reliable testing

With the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory conducting over 8,000 tests, the province ranks third in the country for travel and non travel-related testing. The laboratory will continue to be Saskatchewan’s primary information source for testing.

The Ministry of Health is expected to deploy additional staff to assist with contact tracing. The initiative is to help identify cases and follow up on them in a timely manner to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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panews@jpbg.ca