Test positivity rates are 12 per cent overall for the province and 20 per cent for the Melfort area. (The Canadian Press)

By Rachel May

Rural COVID-19 testing

What to do when children become close contacts with COVID

Oct 13, 2021 | 5:00 PM

Positive COVID-19 cases have popped up across all three Melfort elementary schools and across daycares over the past few weeks.

This is leaving some parents with school-aged children with questions as to what to do if their child comes into contact with a positive COVID case.

The Government of Saskatchewan held a technical media briefing Oct. 13 via teleconference. The briefing discussed current logistical information on the provincial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some residents have been left waiting for their test results for over a week.

Melissa Kimens, executive director of the COVID response unit at the ministry of health and co-incident commander of the Emergency Operations Center Saskatchewan said individuals may need to use rapid tests to indicate COVID status.

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“This is a mater of PCR results coming through the provincial lab,” Kimens said. “I encourage individuals to use rapid tests if they are asymptomatic and that’s certainly a good way to have some indication of whether or not they need to follow up with a PCR result.”

Currently in Saskatchewan, if a student becomes a close contact there is a mandate they must adhere too.

• If the student is asymptomatic:
  • If the student is full vaccinated there is no restrictions (other than provincewide mask mandates) on normal activities or extracurricular activities. The student will need to self monitor.
  • If the student is not fully vaccinated, the student may use the bus and attend classes in person but is not permitted to attend any extracurricular activity for a period of 14 days. The student will need to self monitor.
• If the student is symptomatic:
  • The student is not permitted to go to school.
    • If the student is positive they must complete a self-isolation period.
    • If the student is negative they must stay isolated for 48 hours after they symptoms resolve.

Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said that the test positive rates are rising in the North East.

“Our test-positivity rate overall is 12 per cent. In the Melfort area it is 20 per cent,” Shahab said.

What if a student is named as a close contact?

“Don’t go to school if you are symptomatic and if your test result is negative you should still wait two days until your symptoms have ended. We don’t want cold and cough viruses coming into schools and get your flu shot,” Shahab said.

What if there is a close contact, the person who was in close contact has completed their quarantine but they still have not received their test results?

“If you are named as a close contact, if you are fully vaccinated you only need to observe yourself. You can continue with your daily activities,” Shahab said. “If you are unvaccinated, you have to quarantine for two weeks as a close contact. That should happen irrespective of test results.”

Scott Livingstone, CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said that the are other ways that residents can find out their COVID results at home.

“There is an automatic results notification, whether you are positive or negative. That requires people providing us contact information email and or cellular numbers to do so. The other things is MySaskHealthRecord,” Livingstone said.

For those wanting to find out their COVID results at home, please visit MySaskHealthRecords for more information on how to sign up and view your results.

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On twitter: @RachelMayFM