Saskatchewan had its worst day for new COVID-19 cases since the outbreak began Monday, reporting 34 new positive cases of the disease with most coming from the far north.
Twenty-nine of the cases were reported in the far north region of the province - specifically, around La Loche and surrounding communities. The rest were reported in northern Saskatchewan (four in total) and in Saskatoon (one new case).
The jump in cases for far north Saskatchewan comes after COVID-19 tests previously done in La Loche and presumed positive were confirmed as such by the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory in Regina.
Saskatchewan currently has 467 reported cases of COVID-19, including 154 active cases. Two more people have recovered from the disease as of May 4.
Seven people are receiving in-patient care in Saskatchewan hospitals due to COVID-19, with another four people in intensive care.
News of the spike in positive tests came on the same day the provincial government instituted the first stage of its Reopen Saskatchewan plan, opening public access to medical services and public areas like campgrounds, parks, golf courses, lakes and others where restrictions were in place. Businesses in La Loche and Lloydminster, both communities that have reported outbreaks of COVID-19, have not reopened, while no word has come on whether businesses in Beauval and Prince Albert - where outbreaks have also recently been reported - were allowed to open as normal.
The outbreak in La Loche has now pushed the far north region, which includes Creighton and other communities near Flin Flon, into having the second-highest number of reported cases of COVID-19 since the outbreak began. Throughout the far north, 110 cases have been reported in total. That is in contrast to only three cases being reported in northern Manitoba since the outbreak began.
Saskatchewan has conducted 32,334 COVID-19 tests since the outbreak began.
