Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab has confirmed the province’s first presumptive case of COVID-19.
The infected person is in their 60’s and had just traveled to Egypt. After experiencing symptoms, the person was tested on March 9th in Saskatoon and is well enough to self-isolate at home.
“The province’s first case is linked to travel from a country where local transmission of COVID-19 has been reported,” said Dr. Shahab. “This supports the expanded testing criteria of symptomatic travelers to prepare Saskatchewan’s response to the COVID-19 event. All travelers need to monitor their symptoms for two weeks upon return home.”
Public health is investigating and will connect with this person’s close contacts. If you do not receive a call from public health, you are not at risk of transmission from the person.
Shahab says the risk of acquiring COVID-19 in Saskatchewan continues to be low, and that increased testing will help delay the spread of illness as long as possible.
Provincial Health Minister, Jim Reiter says that the province has dedicated planning teams in place.
“Our government is committed to providing the resources our public health system requires to mitigate and respond to COVID-19.
285 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Saskatchewan, 22 of those ares still pending, with all but one coming back negative
Visit www.saskatchewan.ca/coronavirus for updated information on COVID-19, including questions and answers for the public and care providers and testing surveillance.
Visit https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/travel-health-notices for travel guidance.
