One death, 24 new COVID-19 cases reported Sunday

Saskatchewan has recorded its first COVID-19-related death since Aug. 26.

The province’s 25th coronavirus-related death since March was reported in a media release Sunday, when the Ministry of Health also announced 24 new cases, a $14,000 fine against an organization and a new single-day high in tests performed.

No details, such as age or location, were shared about the person who died.

The Ministry of Health said the fine was “issued to a corporation for non-compliance with the Public Health Act Order and (Re-Open Saskatchewan) Guidelines for Places of Worship.”

The province didn’t say which organization had been fined, but the most-recent outbreak at a religious event was linked to the Gospel Outreach event in Prince Albert.

According to Sunday’s update, 12 of the new cases were linked to that outbreak. According to Saturday’s update, 13 of the province’s active cases had been traced back to that event.

The 24 cases announced Sunday raised the provincial total to date to 2,092.

Of the new cases, 11 were in the Regina area, with five in the north-central area, three in the northwest zone, two in the far northeast and one in each of the southeast, far northwest and Saskatoon zones.

The Ministry of Health said the majority of the new Regina cases are linked to a single apartment complex.

Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s chief medical health officer, in the release reiterated the suggestion that masks should be worn in all indoor public locations where physical distancing isn’t possible or is unpredictable.

“The power to prevent COVID-19 transmission rests with every resident of Saskatchewan,” Shahab said. “The best practices we recommend proved effective as we flattened the curve in the first weeks of the pandemic.

“Stay home if you experience even mild symptoms. Maintain physical distancing of two metres. Wear a mask when you may be unable to maintain this distance, particularly in indoor spaces, or as required in workplaces or schools.”

There were five recoveries reported Sunday, increasing that total to date to 1,888. There are 179 active cases being reported.

There are six people in hospital. Two people are in intensive care, one each in Regina and Saskatoon.

There have been 463 cases from the south area (225 southwest, 207 south-central, 31 southeast), 429 from the Saskatoon zone, 374 in the far north (355 far northwest, 19 far northeast), 306 in the central area (182 central-west, 124 central-east), 306 from the north (137 northwest, 99 north-central, 70 northeast) and 214 in the Regina region.

On Saturday, there were 3,049 tests done — the highest single-day total since the pandemic began.

The total number of cases includes 1,036 community contacts, 599 cases that don’t have any known exposures, 312 travellers and 145 cases that remain under investigation by local public health.