(Facebook/Saskatchewan New Democratic Party)

By Mat Barrett

COVID-19 Locales

McCorriston calls for more disclosure from SHA on locations of COVID-19 cases

Oct 20, 2020 | 4:28 PM

As of Tuesday, Oct. 20, active COVID-19 case numbers are the highest they’ve ever been in Saskatchewan since the start of the pandemic. After 44 new cases on Tuesday and 14 recoveries, the province has 427 active cases.

With numbers as high as they are, the New Democratic Party candidate for the Carrot River Valley constituency is calling on the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to be more open with the locations of COVID-19 cases in the province, such as in communities like Tisdale, Nipawin, and Hudson Bay.

“If they knew there was a COVID case in their community,” McCorriston said. “They would be able to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe.”

He believes communities could be more vigilant if they knew they had a case or number of cases in their community. McCorriston said more people would be using masks, and staying home if they’re not feeling well.

Currently, the government website shows 32 smaller geographical zones and a list is provided to show the communities involved in the ‘sub-regions.’ Case details are shown for each section, showing new cases for that day, active cases, and the population of the sub-region.

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The dashboard on the government website shows 32 smaller zones and their case details.

Outside of Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert, specific communities are not named in releases from the government. Daily cases numbers are given through the 13 regions including ‘North East.’ Specific communities are given when there is an outbreak, similar to what happened in La Loche early in the pandemic. The government was also notifying if cases were connected to ‘communal living settings,’ and sometimes, local First Nations will announce that they have a positive case in their community.

McCorriston said more disclosure could help with making sure they keep making progress through the pandemic.

“It’s a way for us to keep all of these communities safe, and avoid a second lockdown,” he said.

At Tuesday’s COVID-19 update, Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said the SHA has looked at possibly going more specific with geographies, but they believe one sporadic case in a community is not the issue with rising cases, but those not following protocols, creating large transmission events.

“People don’t really do everything in that one small community, they may go to school here, they may go to work here, they may go to shop here,” Shahab told northeastNOW. “So, I think looking at it as one of those 32 geographies is the most useful.”

Shahab added that it is possible to revisit the geographies at some point in the future.

McCorriston added the health authority knows where cases are and they have that information. He also mentioned that he doesn’t think communities would ostracize fellow citizens who have COVID-19.

“I believe when we are going through the worst healthcare crisis in our lifetime,” McCorriston said. “It would be best to be lead safely and efficiently by our doctor.”

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6