Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, confirmed the province’s 8th presumptive case of COVID-19 Tuesday.
The most recent case is a person who is believed to have attended the same dental conference in Vancouver that resulted in another case in the Regina area,
Shahab added that all of the cases, except one, are doing well and isolating at home.
One patient is in the hospital for reasons unrelated to COVID-19.
Shahab said the measures the province has taken so far, are the right thing to do.
“I think as a province, we are all moving in the right direction,” said Shahab. “Obviously, it’s a concerning time, many parents are making alternate arrangements for children. We are, as a province, moving in the right direction, given our case numbers. We want to continue to move in that direction.”
Shahab says that he expects the number of cases in the province to jump in the coming days especially due to many people, including snowbirds, coming back to Canada. He added that community transmission may become a concern as well.
“We certainly expect more travel related cases over the next week or two, I will not be surprised,” said Shahab. “We hope we don’t see non-travel related cases, but I won’t be surprised if do.”
Dr. Shahab added that despite there not being any regulations to do so, he’s happy to see local businesses shutting down to help stop the spread.
“It’s amazing to see how businesses are taking significant personal losses to actually reduce the risk to themselves, and their clients,” said Shahab. “That is leadership by small business owners, by the corporate sector, that is true leadership.”
Shahab urged people to keep practicing social distancing, and proper hygiene. He also stressed that, anyone who has traveled internationally, must self-isolate for 14 days after they return.
When asked if Saskatchewan would follow Alberta, and Ontario in declaring states of emergency, Shahab said that we aren’t there yet and everything the province needs to do is already being done under the Public Health Act.
