McCallum wasn’t told to isolate following COVID-19 test: MN-S

We’re learning more about the positive COVID-19 diagnosis of Metis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) president Glen McCallum.

McCallum visited the drive-through testing site in Saskatoon on Sept. 15, according to MN-S.

MN-S says McCallum made the decision after beginning “a regular schedule of testing given his role as a public figure and out of a desire to proactively safeguard others.”

At the time of McCallum’s test, he had no symptoms and was not advised to self-isolate.

“At the time, he also had no reason to believe that he had any contact with someone who was positive for COVID-19,” according to an email from MN-S.

“Since non-referral testing became available in the province, MN-S leadership and executive have been proactively and voluntarily getting tested for the virus in order to ensure the work of the nation could still be conducted in a manner safe for everyone involved.”

MN-S says it is supporting the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s contact tracing from its events in Waskesiu Lake.

Rob Norris ‘briefly’ with McCallum at estate event

During McCallum’s time in Saskatoon, a ‘Rob Norris for Mayor’ campaign event was on his schedule. The campaign’s director of campaign operations, Dale Richardson, confirmed he attended an event with Norris on Sept. 9.

Richardson confirmed McCallum was at the event, located at a riverbank estate.

The event ran for around five hours, according to Richardson, but many of the attendees came and left at their own leisure.

“That event was held outdoors. We had a number of measures put in place for COVID-19 safety guidelines,” Richardson said.

“(Norris) and President McCallum interacted for less than 15 minutes with each other. They were social distanced from each other, and again – they were outside.”

Richardson said campaign officials would “let the guests at that event” know that they should monitor for symptoms.

He explained also that Norris had previously been tested for COVID-19. The results came back negative.

Based on the advice they were given by HealthLine 811, Norris does not need to isolate. Richardson confirmed that out of an abundance of caution, Norris will be getting another COVID-19 test.

“As he has been campaigning for just about three months now, he’s constantly self-monitoring,” he said. “As far as I know, (no other staff members) have had any problems.”