An outbreak’s an outbreak — unless it isn’t.
We’ve become accustomed to COVID outbreaks being two cases or more, but that simply wasn’t the case for the August 6 Saskatchewan Roughriders home opener.
Tuesday, the health authority told 650 CKOM and 980 CJME that nine cases were linked to the game. Yet, it hasn’t been listed on the outbreak page by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) themselves.
Responding to a request given Tuesday, the SHA explained why.
“With the removal of public health orders and other public health measures, there may be cases associated with large gatherings that would not otherwise constitute an outbreak. Local medical health officers will make this determination based on circumstances and local case transmission,” a statement by the SHA reads.
The game also had two warnings from the SHA, linked to areas of possible transmission. These were in Pil Country, along with buses to and from Birmingham’s in the Queen City.
The game was Canada’s largest mass gathering since March 2020, with over 33,000 in attendance.