SASKATOON -- Check back throughout the day for the latest on COVID-19 in Saskatoon and area.
If you're concerned you might be infected with COVID-19, the Saskatchewan COVID-19 self assessment tool is a helpful resource.
Here's advice on how to practice physical/social distancing and how to properly self-isolate at home. Struggling financially because of COVID-19? Support may be available from the federal government and the province.
Outbreak in La Loche
Saskatchewan’s top doctor has announced an outbreak in northern Saskatchewan.
“We have an outbreak situation in La Loche,” Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, told reporters in a press conference on Friday.
A total of four COVID-19 cases are in La Loche. Two involve a staff member and resident at a personal care home.
Ten residents and 10 staff members at the facility are being monitored for symptoms.
COVID-19 hits provincial revenues
The Government of Saskatchewan predicts the COVID-19 pandemic will result in a potential revenue decline of $1.3 billion to $3.3 billion.
The province says the decline will depend on the length of economic restrictions due to the pandemic.
The Ministry of Finance says it used three different scenarios to estimate the economic impact.
“We are less than three weeks into the new fiscal year and right now we just don’t know how long restrictions will remain in place in Saskatchewan, in Canada and around the world,” Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said in a news release.
Celebrating birthdays in a different way
Two long-time residents at McClure Place and Amy McClure Place in Saskatoon are celebrating big birthdays this month but are doing it differently due to COVID-19.
Ellen Manton turned 105 on Wednesday.
She said it feels “great.”
Garden centres adapt
Gardening season is just around the corner – but for many green thumbs, buying plants and flowers this year will be a different experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many Saskatoon green houses are keeping their doors closed and implementing delivery and curbside pickup.
“I think the biggest thing for us is trying to figure out ways to preserve our business so that we can be strong for our customers and our employees will then have a healthy business to come back to,” said Jill Vanduyvendyk, owner of Dutch Growers.
Sask. ranchers face 'anxiety'
Cattle ranchers in Saskatchewan may not be able to sell livestock following a major buyer’s announcement about slowing down operations.
Earlier this week the union representing employees at the Cargill High River processing plant in Alberta said 1,000 workers have been laid off following an outbreak of COVID-19. Thirty-eight positive cases of the virus were detected at the plant with one hospitalization.
Cargill said it has not laid off employees, but has temporarily idled its second shift operation.
Two more COVID-19 cases
Saskatchewan is reporting two new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the province’s total number of cases to 307.
One of the new cases is confirmed and the other is presumptive positive.
Of those 307 cases, 75 are considered active.
Changes to pedestrian intersections
The city says it has made adjustments to 59 "high-use" pedestrian intersections in light of the pandemic and drivers may have to wait a bit longer as a result.
The signals at the intersections work without pedestrians pushing the activation button.
The city has also installed signs advising pedestrians to not trigger the buttons using their hands.
Removing the buttons isn't feasible, the city said, because people with visual impairments rely on the audible pedestrian system to safely cross which is triggered by the button.
Jazz Fest postponed
The 2020 SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival has been postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The event was scheduled for July 3-12.
"Despite this unprecedented decision, we are determined to be back presenting world-class musicians from home and abroad when it is safe to do so," organizers said in a news release.
Thursday recap
Saskatchewan’s real GDP is expected to decline by five per cent this year, according to a report from the Conference Board of Canada.
But it also forecasts Saskatchewan’s real GDP will rebound by 5.4 per cent in 2021.
A 32-year-old awaiting her murder trial was released from jail as COVID-19 remains a pressing concern for inmates in correctional centres, her lawyer said.As of
Thursday, the province said there have now been 305 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan, with 82 cases considered active.
Notably, there was just one new confirmed case among Thursday's tally.
Saskatoon currently has 44 of the active cases and has had 147 of the province's total number of cases since the onset of pandemic.
The city's real estate market was poised for a potential rise in home prices but with so much affected by COVID-19, broker/owner at Royal LePage Norm Fisher expects uncertainty
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, more and more people are choosing to wear gloves when they venture out into public, but a Saskatoon clinical microbiologist said people still need to be careful.
