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.

147 active cases in far north

On Friday the province said there were eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19, all in the province's far north.

Five of the cases were found in La Loche, the other three in Beauval.

Of Saskatchewan's 176 active cases of the virus, 147 were concentrated in the far north as of Friday..

Fore!

Golfers are getting back into the swing of things as golf courses reopened on Friday.

Golf courses were forced to close under a COVID-19 public health order, resulting in tee times starting later than usual.

Though they’re back in business, golf courses still need to adhere to physical distancing rules and cleaning protocols, according to the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan.

Optimism at Waskesiu

The resort town of Waskesiu in Prince Albert National Park is gearing up for a different Victoria Day long weekend amidst COVID-19 restrictions.

The town usually sees an influx of visitors during this weekend, but this year the park is closed to day area users.

Management at one of the town’s two grocery stores is expecting more cabin owners than usual for this inaugural weekend of the season.

Sask. NDP calls for budget

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe faced questions this week about when this year’s budget will be presented, and now the official opposition is calling on the government to introduce a full 2020-21 budget.

In an open letter Friday, the Saskatchewan NDP called on the government to release a budget that includes projected revenues, expenditures, deficit, debt and economic indicators.

“The Sask. Party and Scott Moe have been writing themselves blank cheques behind closed doors,” said Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili.

Mayor 'shocked' by closed ER

A Saskatchewan mayor says he was left shocked after his community was given less than 48-hours notice that their emergency room would be temporarily closing as part of response planning for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tyler Alexander said he was told Tuesday morning that emergency services would be suspended Thursday at the hospital in Davidson, a town of about 1,000 people halfway between Regina and Saskatoon.

"I'm not impressed with it whatsoever. I'm quite shocked that they would do that," Alexander told The Canadian Press.

Testing expanded

The province says it is expanding the availability of COVID-19 testing. Health officials are focusing on people returning to work as part of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. The province says it will be proactively testing these at-risk groups:

  • People being admitted to a hospital for more than 24 hours, including expectant mothers going to the hospital to give birth.
  • Immunocompromised people, including cancer patients undergoing immunosuppressive procedures.
  • Health-care workers working with immunocompromised patients.
  • High volume work settings like factories or industrial settings.

Thursday recap

On Thursday, the province said there  were five new confirmed case s of COVID-19.

Four of the new cases were found in La Loche, with the remaining case found in Regina.

Since the start of the pandemic, Saskatchewan has had had 582 reported cases of the virus.

As of Thursday, 178 of the cases were considered active, according to the province's daily update.

Of the 178 active cases, 146 are concentrated in the far north.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is  advising customers  of five La Ronge area businesses and a Saskatoon gas station to self-monitor for symptoms after a presumptive case of COVID-19 was identified on Wednesday.

An individual in their sixties was tested at the La Ronge Health Centre on May 13 after showing symptoms, the SHA said in a news release.

The provincial government has  established a special detention centre  for people who fail to comply with self-isolation orders.

The facility was set up quietly by the province. It is located at the White Birch Remand Centre in Regina where female prisoners are held while awaiting trial.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds arrived in Saskatoon at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

The nine-plane formation made a number of passes over Saskatoon's three hospitals.

If you missed the display or just want to take it in again, we have  video of the flypast.