COVID-19 Update: 14 New Cases, Seven in Hospital, Nine More Recoveries

Released on October 1, 2020

There are 14 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on October 1, bringing the total to 1,927 reported cases.  The new cases are located in the North Central (1), North East (1), Central East (5), Regina (4), South West (2) and South Central (1) zones.

Of the 1,927 reported cases, 144 are considered active.  A total of 1,759 people have recovered.

Seven people are in hospital, all are receiving inpatient care; four of those are in Saskatoon, one is in Regina and two are in the South West.

Of the 1,927 cases in the province to date:

• 291 cases are travellers;
• 944 are community contacts (including mass gatherings);
• 564 have no known exposures; and
• 128 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan to date:

• 73 cases are healthcare workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to healthcare in all instances.
• 331 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults.
• 634 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 589 are in the 40-59 age range; 309 are in the 60-79 age range; and 64 are in the 80-plus range.
• 51 per cent of the cases are females and 49 per cent are males.
• 24 deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.
• There are:
  • 444 cases are from the south area (224 south west, 201 south central, 19 south east)
  • 393 cases are from the Saskatoon area
  • 359 cases are from the far north area (350 far north west, 0 far north central, 9 far north east)
  • 279 cases are from the north area (132 north west, 79 north central, 68 north east)
  • 264 cases are from the central area (176 central west, 88 central east)
  • 188 cases are from the Regina area

To date, 193,006 COVID-19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan.  As of September 29, 2020 when other provincial and national numbers are available from Public Health Agency of Canada, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 135,135 people tested per million population.  The national rate was 196,693 people tested per million population.

Yesterday, 2,211 COVID-19 tests were performed in Saskatchewan.

Weekly Reporting of Testing Numbers and Cases for Youth

Monitoring the trends of COVID-19 cases in school-aged children, the weekly report of cases and testing numbers for children aged 0-19 with data by age categories and testing positivity rates has been posted for the week of September 21-27 at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-Safe-Schools-Plan.

Reports will be published Thursdays. 

Data is provided by 32 sub-zones to help the public more easily identify areas where virus activity may be more prevalent.  Information is not specific to schools, but schools with a declared outbreak will be posted at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/latest-updates. 

In-School Testing

The week of September 14, asymptomatic testing opportunities were made available at three high schools in the province.  There were 987 tests completed and the positivity rate was 0 per cent.

All students and staff should remain home if experiencing even mild symptoms.  Preventing in-school transmission begins with preventing community transmission.

COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 testing is available to anyone who requests it.  A referral for testing can be made by contacting HealthLine 811, your physician or nurse practitioner.  If you require urgent care, call 911.

Note that testing is prioritized for symptomatic individuals. Symptomatic patients in acute care and symptomatic and asymptomatic healthcare workers and first responders, residents in long term care or personal care homes, teachers and educational staff are also prioritized.

If you are symptomatic and call 811 to book a test, you will be booked for a test approximately 48 hours after the reported onset of symptoms.  Symptomatic Saskatchewan residents planning to attend a drive-thru site are asked to attend after experiencing symptoms for 48 hours.  Drive-through staff may advise symptomatic residents return at that 48 hour mark to ensure an accurate result.

If you are asymptomatic and planning to travel but require a test, please allow a minimum of seven days from the date of your test through to notification of results.  You can also view your results directly on MySaskHealthRecord.  Drive-through testing sites that do not require a referral are operating in Regina and Saskatoon.  This is in addition to the testing and assessment centres currently open.

Regina - International Trade Centre at Evraz Place - Hall C, 1700 Elphinstone Street
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays - 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturdays – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saskatoon - 3630 Thatcher Avenue
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays - 12 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays - 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

A valid Saskatchewan Health Card will be required for each person getting tested.  A Canadian Armed Forces number or Interim Federal Health identification will also be accepted.  Individuals from out of province will require a valid provincial health card from their province of residence.

You will be required to wear a mask during the registration process.

The drive-thru sites will be first come, first served so there may be some wait times.  You must wait in your vehicle.  There are no public washrooms available at these sites.

General COVID-19 Information

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

Find the most up-to-date version of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan at www.saskatchewan.ca/re-open.

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For more information, contact:

Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca