(Canadian Press)

By paNOW Staff

Latest on COVID-19 in the province

Voluntary in-school testing beginning Sept. 16; 4 new COVID-19 cases reported on Friday

Sep 4, 2020 | 2:00 PM

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced on Friday that three schools across the province will have in-school testing on a voluntary basis, starting on the week of Sept. 14.

Carlton Comprehensive High School in Prince Albert is the only school that will have two separate testing dates, and will hold them on Sept. 17 and Sept. 18. In-school testing will also be offered at Holy Cross in Saskatoon Sept. 17, and at Campbell Collegiate in Regina on Sept. 16.

Consent forms will be given to students on Sept. 9.

“It is an honour to be chosen,” said Robert Bratvold, the director of education for the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division. “It’s a good thing to partner with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. I think it’s also good to be supportive of community health and public health, that’s a good thing. I think it’s a good opportunity for our students as well.”

Although in-school testing is available, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said it’s important for students to stay at home and not receive the in-school test if they are experiencing symptoms, but to use HealthLine 811.

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“This is the year we should not go to work if we are unwell and we should not have students go to school if they are unwell, they should stay at home until the children are better,” Dr. Shahab said during Friday’s press conference. “If you have any concerns, you should get tested while you’re at home. For most people, that’s calling 811. I think that’s going to be important throughout the next weeks and months.”

Shahab added that if there is a case or a cluster that occurs at a school, those with symptoms should be tested through 811 while additional in-school testing could be made available to those who are not exhibiting any symptoms.

Four new cases

The (SHA) reported four new COVID-19 cases on Friday, one each in the North Central, Central West, South West and South Central zones.

That brings the provincial total up to 1,638 cases, 36 of which are active, and 1,578 have recovered.

Three people are in hospital. Two people are receiving inpatient care in Saskatoon and one person is in intensive care in Saskatoon.

Of the 1,638 cases in the province:

• 250 cases are travellers;

• 831 are community contacts (including mass gatherings);

• 487 have no known exposures; and

• 70 are under investigation by local public health

Overall in Saskatchewan:

• 66 cases are healthcare workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to healthcare in all instances.

• 275 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults. 526 cases are in the 20 to 39 age range; 501 are in the 40 to 59 age range; 278 are in the 60 to 79 age range; and 58 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:

• 421 cases from the south area (217 south west, 193 south central, 11 south east)
• 353 cases from the far north area (347 far north west, six far north east)
• 267 cases from the Saskatoon area
• 267 cases from the north area (130 north west, 71 north central, 66 north east)
• 198 cases from the central area (164 central west, 34 central east)
• 132 cases from the Regina area

To date, 144,672 COVID‐19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan.

Yesterday, 1,221 COVID-19 tests were performed in the province.

COVID-19 cases in the province, divided by zones. Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Health Authority.

A graph of COVID-19 cases in the province. Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff

Drive-Through Testing For Regina and Saskatoon

Drive-through testing sites will be open September 8 in Regina and September 10 in Saskatoon, in addition to the testing and assessment centres currently open.

In Saskatchewan, testing is universally available to anyone who requests it, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not, and the drive-through service provides an additional option in the two cities that account for approximately half of Saskatchewan’s provincial testing each day.

Regina – Open as of Tuesday, September 8

International Trade Centre at Evraz Place – Hall C, 1700 Elphinstone Street

Tuesdays and Thursdays – 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturdays – 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saskatoon – Open as of Thursday, September 10 3630 Thatcher Avenue

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays – 12 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• You do not require a referral from HealthLine 811 or a family physician or nurse practitioner to access the drive-through locations; however, 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.

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

• The drive-through 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.

—

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow