Saskatchewan’s premier warns of continued high COVID-19 cases in province
Use of non-medical masks could become mandatory
REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe warned the province to brace for the possibility of continued high numbers of new COVID-19 cases and suggested use of non-medical masks could become mandatory.
Moe addressed a pandemic briefing on Monday as active cases continued to climb to new daily highs, bolstered by a surge of cases on Hutterite colonies throughout the province.
He suggested Saskatchewan could add 300 to 400 new cases on Hutterite colonies and bring the infection rate among the province’s estimated 6,000 Hutterites to as high as six per cent.
“I don’t know that we will have similar numbers in the days ahead, but it wouldn’t be unexpected,” Moe said. “There is a lag to how this virus works.”
Saskatchewan has added 239 new cases over the last six days, by far the largest case surge during the pandemic. Many of the cases have been linked to Hutterite colonies.
The province announced 31 new diagnosed cases of COVID-19 on Monday to bring the total number of cases to 1,209. Active cases rose to 307, an all-time high. Active cases have climbed since dropping to 40 on July 11.
The new cases were located in the following regions: central (10), south (nine), Saskatoon (eight) and north (three).
The province identified 22 of the new cases as being located on colonies in the south, central, Saskatoon and north regions.
Fourteen of the people diagnosed with COVID-19 are in hospital, the highest since 15 on May 9. Four patients are receiving intensive care.
Active cases in the south region climbed to 156, the same as the peak on May 10 in the far north region. The outbreak in the far north, centred in the northern village of La Loche, prompted the province to impose an unprecedented travel ban.
The province reported 1,613 tests on Monday after reaching a high of 1,799 on Saturday. Despite a substantial surge in testing that began July 16, Saskatchewan still trails national per capita testing rates.
Moe said health officials plan to visit every Hutterite colony in the province, but also noted that most colonies do not have infected members. He cautioned against stigmatizing a particular group of people.
Remote and Rural Health Minister Warren Kaeding said some Hutterite colonies have imposed a voluntary lockdown and are taking other measures like limiting travel to deter the spread.
Moe added that mandatory masks could be considered at some point.
“This is a conversation that is escalating. I see it escalating across Canada, I see it escalating in this province, as well,” he said, adding that he carries a mask with him.