Saskatchewan reports first deaths

Saskatchewan has reported its first two deaths from COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health says two people in their 70s died Sunday from complications related to the novel coronavirus.

“This is kind of a sad milestone in our fight against COVID-19,” chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said at a news conference Monday.

Both patients died in hospital in different parts of the province, he said. One of the cases was travelrelated and the other resulted from community transmission.

“What we’re seeing is certainly very sad, but it’s not unexpected, because now it’s been three weeks or more since we’ve started reporting cases in Saskatchewan,” Shahab said.

The province also reported 20 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 176. Five people were in hospital and one patient was in intensive care. Fourteen people who had been ill have recovered.

The province says most of the cases have been related to travel or large gatherings, but eight have been the result of community transmission.

“We are seeing a phase where we are seeing more and more community transmission,” Shahab said.

COVID-19 testing in B.C. still targeted at system

British Columbia’s top doctor says testing for COVID-19 remains focused on the health-care system and identifying chains of transmission, rather than the broader public.

Provincial health officer Dr.

Bonnie Henry says there has been some testing where clusters of the disease have been identified across the province and people who were exposed are unclear whether or not they have symptoms.

But she says broader testing of healthy people with no symptoms won’t be a part of the province’s strategy until B.C. reaches the “down side” of the curve in the virus’s spread, which has yet to happen.

Henry says physical distancing is still critically important and announced 92 new cases of COVID19 in B.C. on Saturday, for a total of 884.

There has been one additional death and 81 people are hospitalized, including 52 in intensive care, while nearly 400 people in B.C. have recovered after contracting COVID-19.

Henry says the recovery rate is quite high because many of the people affected by early outbreaks in long-term care facilities were younger health-care workers who experienced milder disease that didn’t last as long.

“Nationally, we’ve agreed that there’s criteria for when people can be considered recovered. For people who have not been hospitalized, who have mild disease, we are now considering them recovered when they are symptom-free (for 10 days),” said Henry.

Business closures in Man.

The Manitoba government is shutting down non-essential businesses as of Wednesday to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Salons, spas, bars and many retail stores are to close. Restaurants will be allowed to remain open for takeout and delivery only.

“We take these temporary steps today to protect our most valuable service of all - our health-care system - and to protect our most vulnerable,” Premier Brian Pallister said Monday.

The order follows similar moves in other provinces. The closures do not affect health-care facilities, grocery stores, government services, banks, gas stations, manufacturers, agricultural operations and liquor stores.

The measure is to be in place until at least April 14 and could very well be extended, health officials said.

The government also on Monday reported 24 new cases of COVID-19 for a probable and confirmed total of 96.

One person has died in the province so far and two have recovered.