Two more people in Saskatchewan have died due to COVID-19. Both people were elders from the far north region of the province.
The deaths were announced, along with four new cases of the disease, by provincial health officials June 8. Three of the four new cases were in Saskatoon, while the one remaining case was found in the far north.
One person who died was in their 60s, while the second was in their 70s. Genders, home communities or any other identifying characteristics of the two people who died were not released. One other person remained in hospital, as of June 8, due to COVID-19. That person was in Saskatoon in intensive care, according to most recently available information.
Since the pandemic began, 13 people have died in Saskatchewan due to COVID-19. Six of those deaths have been reported within the far north region. While the far north region contains communities such as Creighton, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows, Sandy Bay and Deschambault Lake, there have been no confirmed cases of the disease found in any community on the northeast side of the province.
Seventeen active cases of COVID-19 remain in Saskatchewan.
The provincial government moved ahead with the third phase of its provincial reopening plan, allowing bars and restaurants to reopen to 50 per cent capacity and allowing gyms and personal care services to reopen. Public gathering sizes have increased from a maximum of 10 people to a maximum of 15 people for indoor gatherings and 30 outdoors.
The province also advised that playgrounds, beaches and public washrooms will be able to reopen June 12. Guidelines for each of those were added to the provincial Reopen Saskatchewan plan June 8.
"Guidelines for these facilities... will include measures such as maintaining physical distancing, frequent handwashing and enhanced cleaning and disinfection of rental equipment and washrooms," reads a provincial statement.
Travel restrictions to northwest Saskatchewan have been lifted. Similar restrictions for northeast Saskatchewan have been lifted for nearly three weeks.
In La Loche, where COVID-19 has infected well over 100 people, only a handful of active cases remain according to community officials. The community is now able, by provincial decree, to reopen to phase one and two of the provincial plan. The plan was halted for La Loche due to the high number of positive cases in the community.
