Province logs 9 new virus cases, 7 in Far North
There are nine new recorded cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan as of Wednesday, with seven in the Far North region.
It is unclear whether those seven cases are related to a recent funeral and wake at Clearwater River Dene Nation, where two people in attendance tested positive for COVID -19 as of June 11.
In recent days, chief medical officer Dr. Saqib Shahab confirmed that many of the newer Far North cases are related to those specific events. The provincial government did not hold its regular COVID -19 update on Wednesday.
Clearwater River was linked to the La Loche outbreak, but had gone three weeks without a positive case prior to the wake and funeral, which were held in a private home.
“Unfortunately, that kind of got sidetracked and more people showed up,” Clearwater River Chief Teddy Clark told Postmedia News this week.
He noted not all of the new cases were linked directly to the wake and funeral.
In its reopen plan, the province has specifically addressed guidelines for funerals and weddings.
These events may have a maximum of 150 people outdoors in “multiple groups of 30” — 30 being the maximum number of people allowed in a gathering in this phase of the reopening plan.
People must two-metre-distance unless they are part of the same household. Each group of 30 must be distanced by at least five metres.
Indoors, the number of people allowed hinges on seating capacity — 30 per cent of seats, up to 150 people total.
Shahab recommends meeting outdoors and in smaller groups, and, of course, staying home if you are sick.
A Saskatoon family may have heeded the latter advice to no avail.
Shahab said Tuesday that several recent Saskatoon cases had been linked to international travel and subsequent exposure within households; three cases were under investigation.
On Wednesday, two new cases were confirmed for Saskatoon.
Of Saskatoon’s 13 active cases, one person is in in-patient care and one is in intensive care.
The provincial case total is 693, 47 of which are considered active.