COVID claims Sask. resident in their 20s
REGINA A person in their 20s who tested positive for COVID -19 has died, becoming the 15th and youngest person to die in Saskatchewan while diagnosed with the illness.
The Ministry of Health announced the death on Tuesday afternoon. The person was a resident of the north, a region that includes Prince Albert, Meadow Lake, Lloydminster, Melfort and the Battlefords.
All of the 14 other Saskatchewan people who died after contracting COVID-19 were between 50 and 90. Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said the latest death should serve as a warning that no one is immune to the worst outcomes of the virus.
“It really is a reminder for all of us that while serious illness and death may be rarer in people who are younger, it does occasionally happen,” he said during a teleconference with reporters. “It’s an unfortunate reminder for us that COVID does not discriminate by age or other factors — it’s a risk for all of us.
“That is exactly why we need to continue to take precautions throughout the summer,” he added.
Shahab would not say in which hospital the deceased person was being treated, or whether they suffered from any underlying conditions.
He expressed his condolences to the family for their loss, as he has throughout the pandemic.
So far, 283 people aged between 20 to 39 have tested positive for COVID -19 in Saskatchewan, more than any other age group.
“We continue to see increasing numbers of cases in all age groups, especially the young,” Shahab explained. “And this really is a reminder that, as we enjoy the summer, we need to continue to focus on physical distancing.”
Only one new case of COVID -19 was reported on Tuesday. The new case, a Saskatoon region resident who was tested outside of the province, brings the total of cumulative cases to 806, with 54 now considered active.
Five new recoveries from COVID -19 were reported on Tuesday. Four people were in hospital, including three in the north and one in Saskatoon. None of those patients were in intensive care as of the time of the news release, though one person had been reported in a Saskatoon ICU on
Monday.
Shahab said the risk of COVID -19 transmission remains low in much of Saskatchewan. But he called Prince Albert and the surrounding vacationing region to the north an “area of concern.” He said there has been a “cluster of cases” there without any links to known cases. That’s a sign of community transmission.
Six hospitalizations have been reported in the Prince Albert area over the past 10 days. That comes without a broader increase in positive test results for COVID-19. That could suggest that cases are on the rise, but are being missed because people are not being tested, Shahab warned.
“Because we need many cases to result in a hospitalization, it shows that there’s a lack of testing happening in the P.A. area,” said Shahab. “Testing capacity is there, but it appears that people are not coming forward for testing if they have mild symptoms.”
It’s vital that they do, since extensive testing and contact tracing is “the only proven way that we can break the chains of transmission.” Shahab said public health teams are now making a plan to enhance testing through outreach and public communications in Prince Albert and the surrounding area.
“It is important for anyone in Saskatchewan, and especially in the P.A. area, to seek testing if they’re symptomatic,” said Shahab.
About 70,000 people have been tested provincewide so far during the pandemic, including 12,264 in the northern area including Prince Albert. The Saskatchewan testing total is below the national average on a per-capita basis.
Meanwhile, there were still no active cases identified in the Regina area as of Tuesday. The most recent new case was in late May, and the last active case was in midjune. But Shahab warned against complacency, anywhere in Saskatchewan.
“Overall, while our COVID transmission risk is fairly low, it’s not zero,” said Shahab.
“Enjoy the summer, but practise physical distancing and mask use where appropriate.”