Sask. adds 18 cases, many linked to funeral

SASKATOON Saskatchewan has recorded 18 new cases of COVID -19, its largest number in one day in more than three weeks — 13 of which are located in the far north region.

The province announced Monday that most of the far north cases are linked to a wake held Wednesday on the Clearwater River Dene Nation and a funeral the following day.

Three more people tested positive in the Saskatoon region; two positive cases that are included in the 18 are people who tested positive in Saskatchewan, but live outside the province.

Prior to Monday, the province had added a total of 18 new cases since June 4. Saskatchewan reported 21 new cases on May 20.

The number of diagnosed cases rose to 683, and active cases increased to 41, the most active cases since 47 on June 1.

“The mood of people is: ‘Damn, we have to go through all this again,” Clearwater River Chief Teddy Clark said in an interview.

After Clearwater River was linked to an outbreak in the nearby northern village of La Loche, Clark said the community went three weeks without a positive case prior to the wake and funeral.

Clark said a lockdown was imposed last week in response to the new cases in the community of about 1,000 located about 522 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. Some of the travel restrictions were relaxed on Saturday, although checkpoints and a curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. remain in place.

The wake was held in a private home in Clearwater River on Wednesday for someone whose death was not related to COVID -19, Clark said.

“Unfortunately, that kind of got sidetracked and more people showed up,” he added, noting that not all of the new cases were linked directly to the wake and funeral.

Clark said he’s not a big fan of reopening too soon and urged people in his community and elsewhere to keep taking the proper precautions.

“We all knew at some point in time that we’d see a few cases popping up here and there,” he said. “So that’s kind of expected.”

In a news release, the province’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, echoed the sentiment to keep adhering to safety rules despite low numbers.

Active cases in the far north region increased to 22, the highest since 24 on June 3; active cases in the Saskatoon region jumped to 12, the most since May 12.

There are two active cases in the Regina region, two in the south region and one in the north region.

The third phase of the government’s reopening plan included expanded limits for gatherings — 15 indoor and 30 outdoor. The province also increased last week the number who can attend worship services, including funerals and weddings.

All of the rules include provisions for physical distancing between members of different households.