The number of COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan is inching closer to 100, with another 14 cases reported March 25 bringing the province to 86 total cases.
Twenty cases have been reported in Saskatchewan since March 22. Out of those cases, 11 have been reported in Saskatoon, seven have been reported in Regina and two have been reported elsewhere in southern Saskatchewan. None of the new cases have been reported in the north.
Out of all cases reported, four of the 86 cases are because of local transmission. Four people in Saskatchewan are currently being hospitalized for causes related to COVID-19.
Four of the 86 cases involve people under the age of 19, while 13 have been reported in people 65 years old or older.
The province has reported a total of 6,270 completed COVID-19 tests throughout Saskatchewan.
In response to COVID-19, the province has limited all public and private gatherings to 10 people maximum effective March 26. A list of critical public services, including health care workers, law enforcement, public safety, manufacturing, transportation, media, construction, banking, some retail services and others hase been released by the government. These essential services will be allowed to continue working during the response to COVID-19.
Some businesses will be considered non-allowable to provide public facing-services, including clothing and shoe stores, sporting goods stores, vehicle retailers, book stores, pawn shops, travel agencies and others.
All restaurants besides those that offer take-out with two-metre distancing between staff and the public, drive-thrus and delivery services were ordered closed March 23, along with recreation centres, bars and nightclubs and several types of personal services like tattoo parlours and hairdressers.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health has begun working to recruit recently retired health workers, including nurses and technicians, to help with what the ministry described as "the expected demands on the acute care system during the COVID-19 pandemic response."
