30 new cases of COVID-19 in Sask., 6 people in hospital

Sask. gets 30 new COVID-19 cases Saskatchewan is now at 134 COVID-19 cases after its largest single day spike. Stefanie Davis reports.

REGINA — Saskatchewan has 30 new COVID-19 cases bringing the provincial total to 134, according to the province.

This is Saskatchewan’s highest single day rise in the number of total cases.

Six people remain in hospital due to COVID-19 across the province, including three in acute care and three in intensive care units (ICU).

Central Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Regina each have one ICU case.

The other inpatient cases are located in the North, Regina and Saskatoon.

The province said seven cases are due to community transmission, while the rest are travel related or due to exposure at mass gatherings.

A snowmobile rally held in Christopher Lake on March 14 is responsible for 18 COVID-19 cases.

The province is working to contact every person that attended this event. Each person affected is now self-isolating at home.

The province said anyone who has attended this event, or any large gathering, over the past several weeks should be self-monitoring or self-isolating if directed.

“This is extremely important to help contain the spread. If you attended the rally and have not yet been contacted and are experiencing symptoms, please, please call 8-1-1 to be assessed,” said Dr. Khami Chokani, the doctor in charge of the Christopher Lake investigation.

“While we love celebrating and getting together in Saskatchewan, this is not the time. This is the time for social distancing. This is the time to remain connected through other means,” said Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer.

Around 250 people attended the snowmobile rally during the day and around 110 people were at a supper later that day.

Five cases are in people 19-years-old or younger, while the rest of cases are adults. 58 cases are in the 20 to 44 age range, 49 are in the 45 to 64 age range and 22 are 65-years or older.

Currently 57 per cent of cases are men while 43 per cent are women.

The province said it is aware of four people that have recovered from the virus, however there could be more yet to be reported to Public Health.

The Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory has performed 8,248 total COVID-19 tests as of March 28.

The laboratory ranks number three in the country for total travel and non travel-related tests conducted by population.

The province said over 25,000 telephone assessments were conducted by Saskatchewan physicians in the first 10 days since it was introduced on March 13.

The government will be releasing more information about provincial testing centres and practices on Monday.

Saskatchewan surpassed 100 COVID-19 cases on Friday.