COVID-19: Sask. declares state of emergency, additional measures, after announcing 8 new cases

Sask. declares state of emergency WATCH: Saskatchewan has declared a state of emergency after a spike in COVID-19 cases. Marc Smith explains.

REGINA — The province of Saskatchewan has declared a state of emergency after announcing eight new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.

The State of Emergency gives the government “broad powers” to address the pandemic, such as limiting travel from an area or community.

The government has also issued a number of new orders:

“ This action will allow the SHA the ability to redeploy nurses and other staff and ensure medical supplies and personal protective equipment are available when needed and reduce risk of further exposure to our care providers and patients,” The province said in a news release.

Parents with children in daycares should prepare for more restrictions.

The Premier said this is a critical time, and pleaded with all citizens of Saskatchewan to do their part.

“Pulling together means we need to stay apart,” Scott Moe said.

He said he has heard of members of the public coming home from travel and going out in the community the very next day. Moe said “this cannot be happening.”

He asked that Saskatchewan residents need to do their part to help those most vulnerable, and reminded that these measures will not work unless everyone does their part.

“These measures will not completely prevent the spread but it will flatten the curve,” Moe said. “We have a personal responsibility to this province and this nation”

People who may have been in contact with an infected person have been contacted and informed to self-isolate.

“It’s important that we break the chain of transmission,” Dr. Shahab said.

Saskatchewan has eight new, presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the province, bringing the total to 16.

All but one of the infected people are currently well enough to self-isolate at their homes. The person in hospital is being treated for medical reasons not related to COVID-19.

To date, 1,978 tests have been performed in the province.

“This is a critical time for all individuals and organizations to ensure that they are practicing social distancing, staying home whenever possible and absolutely staying home when you are ill, even with mild symptoms,” Saskatchewan Provincial Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said. “We will also see more cases linked to travel within Canada. Limit all non-essential travel at this time as part of the provincial and national effort to prevent transmission.”

The province has identified two flights to Regina that the impacted people were on. It’s asked that anyone on these flights self-isolate.

CTV News Regina's Marc Smith is live at the announcement: