Thursday brought a dubious record for Saskatchewan - the highest number yet for new COVID-19 cases in one day province-wide.
Forty-two new cases of COVID-19 were reported by the province July 16, with the majority being reported in southern Saskatchewan. Out of the 42 cases, 31 were found in the south, with six in the central region, four in Saskatoon and one in the north. No new cases were found in the far north.
"There is now an increased risk of COVID-19 in central and southwest Saskatchewan," said provincial rural and remote health minister Warren Kaeding in a July 16 news conference.
"We all have to keep being careful."
Province-wide, Saskatchewan now has 114 active cases of COVID-19, with most in both central and southern regions. Only seven cases remain active in far north Saskatchewan, with none reported in northeastern Saskatchewan or in former COVID-19 hotspot La Loche.
Saskatchewan has reported a total of 923 cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Ahead of the announcement, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) anticipated a hefty increase in COVID-19 numbers as testing ramped up in central Saskatchewan.
The SHA released an expanded list of rural municipalities in central and southern Saskatchewan with "increased risk of transmission of COVID-19". Those RMs include Auvergne, Biggar, Eagle Creek, Grandview, Harris, Kellross, Lac Pelletier, Maple Creek, Newcombe, Perdue, Pleasant Valley, Prairiedale and Tramping Lake. The City of Swift Current is also listed as an area with increased risk.
Most of the cases in the RMs listed are linked to Hutterite communities, along with what the SHA called "several other, unrelated increases in cases in these municipalities that are presenting an elevated risk" in a July 15 news release.
"The SHA is actively engaging with the Hutterite Safety Council, local Hutterite leaderships, local municipalities and the business community to ensure all necessary actions are being taken to mitigate as much as possible the further spread of the virus. "
No restrictions on travel to the affected RMs has been announced by the provincial government. Kaeding said the travel restrictions for northern Saskatchewan were requested by community leaders in the northwest portion of the province, not mandated by the provincial government and that leaders in affected communities have not requested restrictions.
Further raises in positive test numbers are possible later this week and next week. According to the SHA, testing in these regions included 91 tests with results expected July 16, along with more than 160 more people who are undergoing testing.
"It is expected that this will lead to case increases in the formal provincial daily COVID-19 case report in the days ahead," reads the SHA news release.
