Saskatchewan has reported more northern cases of COVID-19 and a possible exposure during a recent wedding.
Another four cases have been found in the Far North East region, the same region that includes Creighton and Denare Beach, but all four cases are in the Far North East 1 zone, which does not include communities near Flin Flon. There are currently 14 cases in the region according to the province, all of which are in the Far North East 1 zone.
In a statement issued by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band Oct. 13, the band stated six people within the community of Stanley Mission had tested positive. Those six people had 92 confirmed combined close contacts, of which all others who live in the community have tested negative with one result still pending. Another seven cases have been reported as confirmed in Little Red River, according to the band, with two cases in La Ronge.
"Contact tracing is underway in all of these communities and it is of critical importance that those who have been identified as close contacts follow the direction given by the public health nurses," reads the Oct. 13 band statement.
The province reported 25 new cases throughout Saskatchewan. Other cases have been found in the north east region (seven cases), north central region (five cases), Saskatoon (four), Regina (three) and the central east and south east regions (one each).
The Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) has declared an outbreak at Red Earth Cree Nation following a number of confirmed cases in the community. At least one person who tested positive for the disease attended a wedding at Red Earth Oct. 9 when they were, according to a NITHA statement, "likely infectious". Anyone who attended the wedding is asked to self-isolate for two weeks from the date of the possible exposure.
Seven Saskatchewan residents are now hospitalized with COVID-19, with one person in intensive care. The province now has 254 active cases of COVID-19.
