Number of people in hospital with COVID-19 goes up in Saskatchewan

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This article was published 17/07/2020 (2299 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA – The Saskatchewan government is reporting 13 new cases of COVID-19 and adds the number of people in hospital with the illness has increased to a dozen.

That compares with three hospitalizations on Monday.

The new cases include eight in the central region, two in the Regina area and one each in the far north, north and south.

They bring the total number in Saskatchewan since the pandemic began to 936 with 15 of those infected dying.

There now are 128 active cases and 793 recoveries.

The government says three cases that were previously reported as recovered have been put back on the active list.

“This can happen if public health determines an individual has relapsed or developed additional symptoms,” the province said Friday.

Meanwhile, a northern Dene community hit hardest by COVID-19 has declared itself free of the illness.

La Loche says its last active case was deemed recovered on Wednesday.

“It has been a long haul, but it’s a welcome relief to know working together we can accomplish such a feat,” said Mayor Robert St. Pierre. “To get to zero is a huge milestone.”

The village and Clearwater Dene First Nation have accounted for almost one-third of the province’s cases to date. Of the 282 infected people in the area, five died.

The first confirmed case was on April 15 and the novel coronavirus quickly spread.

The community’s response included closing the local liquor store and launching a managed alcohol program by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

St. Pierre said the biggest challenge was persuading residents that the virus was a real threat. He said continuing that education will be key in preventing another outbreak.

While restrictions have been eased, the community is not letting up.

“We are still practising precautions. We are still wearing our masks when we go shopping and out in public,” St. Pierre said.

“We have learned to readjust our lives.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2020

— With files from CJME