Hutterite colonies in south hit by virus

SHA and community’s safety council seek to reduce ‘resistance’ over testing

With one COVID -19 outbreak officially declared over, the Saskatchewan Health Authority is providing clarity about another outbreak that appears to be growing.

On Monday afternoon, the SHA and the Hutterian Safety Council (HSC) issued a news release “in the spirit of openness,” to give details about an outbreak declared last week on two Hutterite colonies in the Rural Municipality of Maple Creek.

The SHA ended a Saskatoon community outbreak declaration on Sunday, which had been declared on May 27 due to transmission linked to a large gathering among multiple households.

The HSC — which includes spiritual leaders, educators, volunteer firefighters, safety instructors and medical first responders — has worked since the pandemic began to try to reduce the spread of COVID -19.

The HSC states “there have been challenges getting some Hutterite communities to implement adequate COVID -19 protocols and to abide by the public health orders, although most adapted with care and managed the transition somewhat easier than others.”

“Many Hutterites feel that their communities are isolated and thus are insulated communities,” the statement said.

“This creates a false sense of security in the face of the COVID -19, and HSC continues to work at dispelling this notion.

“While the remoteness and the separateness of our communities can be beneficial, it does not eliminate the risk of the virus entering our communities.”

There has been a “misunderstanding ” that positive COVID -19 tests would lead to the communities’ economic shutdown, which led to “some resistance” to testing in some Hutterite communities.

While there were no new cases reported in the South region (which includes Maple Creek) on Monday, the weekend saw 20 new cases recorded there.

Two additional cases are being investigated related to local and interprovincial travel among the Hutterites, for 95 total active cases provincewide.

On the weekend, nine new cases were in the Far North; Monday saw four more, for a total 48 active cases in the Far North.

Also Monday, there is one new case in the Saskatoon region (which includes communities in the former Saskatoon Health Region, including Duck Lake, Humboldt and Strasbourg).

Currently, there are three Covid-19-related hospitalizations: one in Saskatoon and two in the South. There are currently no patients with COVID -19 in intensive care.

According to figures from June 20, Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 testing rate is 71 per cent of the national rate.

Testing is available to anyone currently working outside the home, acute care patients and immunocompromised individuals.

To seek testing, contact Healthline 811 or your family doctor.