Premier Scott Moe announced on Wednesday, April 1 alongside Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, that Saskatchewan recorded its third death resulting from COVID-19. Moe also announced the province will be extending the state of emergency for two more weeks. “These measures, I would say, are working,” said Moe. “They are working because each and every one of you are doing your part. Thank you for so quickly adapting to what is nothing short of a strange new way of living,” he added.
The Saskatchewan resident who died due to COVID-19 was in the 80-89 age range. So far, all three deaths in the province were people in the 70 and above age range.
Moe said continuing to practice what has been implemented thus far will continue to flatten the curve in the province. “This will mean fewer hospitalizations and fewer deaths,” said Moe. “I promise you – collectively, we are saving lives,” he added.
As of April 1, Saskatchewan has confirmed nine new cases, bringing the provincial total up to 193.
Currently, there are four people in the hospital in Saskatchewan due to COVID-19. Three people are receiving inpatient care in Saskatoon, while one person is in the ICU in Regina. Of the 193 cases, 87 are travellers, 41 are community contacts and eight have no known exposures. Fifty-seven are under investigation by local public health.
Shahab said he expects more cases will be linked to community transmission without a known source of exposure. “I think that is really important for us to remember now it is not just due to travel,” said Shahab.
“We really need to accept that we have COVID-19 now as a risk in Saskatchewan. We need to redouble our efforts to protect ourselves and protect those who are more vulnerable and really keep the curve as flat as possible,” he added.
Twenty-four cases can be traced back to a Christopher Lake snowmobile rally dinner on March 14.
Ninety-four COVID-19 cases are from the Saskatoon area, 43 are from Regina, 37 from north Saskatchewan, nine from central Saskatchewan, seven from the south and three originate from the far north.
To date, 10,528 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. According to provincial sources, Saskatchewan has the second highest rate of testing per capita amongst the provinces.
Nine more people have recovered from the coronavirus in Saskatchewan, bringing the provincial total to 30.
