Update #2: Dr Mandiangu Nsungu, Chief Medical Officer for the North Zone, is now confirming Lloydminster has had 34 total COVID 19 cases, 16 of which are active and 18 recoveries.Â
UPDATE: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says as a result of the outbreak, previous economic re-opening plans will not begin in the communities of Lloydminster and La Loche on May 4th, 2020. It will go ahead in the rest of the province. More information to come when it is available.
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The Saskatchewan Health Authority has confirmed new COVID-19 cases in Lloydminster, connected to a cluster at the Lloydminster Hospital.
In total, thirteen cases comprised of five health care workers and eight patients have been identified by SHA, with transmission having occurred within the hospital setting. Four of those cases were confirmed on April 29th. Dr Mandiangu Nsungu, Cheif Medical Officer for the North Zone, is now confirming Lloydminster has had 34 total cases, 16 of which are active and 18 recoveries.
As a result, SHA says the patients are being co-horted to separate units in the Lloydminster Hospital. The hospital will still be admitting COVID-19 patients should they come, but non-COVID patients may be diverted to other hospitals.
Key emergency department, emergency surgical and obstetrical services will remain at Lloydminster Hospital. This may change based on ongoing risk assessment by SHA and other health bodies. All health care workers who have been identified as a close contact with a confirmed case are being tested as the investigation continues.
Across Saskatchewan, 17 new cases have been confirmed, with eleven being in La Loche, four in Lloydminster, one in Saskatoon and another in the North Zone. There has also been a sixth death, a person in their 80s from the Far North.
Active cases are at 86, with recoveries remaining at 291 of 383 reported.
Testing numbers show that 29,106 people have been tested for COVID-19, with 26,949 negative results.