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.
12 new cases of COVID-19 in La Loche, Sask.
As of Friday, the province said there were 13 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 12 of the new cases found in La Loche.
The remaining case was located in the province's north, according to the Saskatchewan government's daily COVID-19 news release.
Of the province's 203 active cases, 148 are concentrated in the far north, with 38 in Saskatchewan's north.
'I’m kind of scared'
Restaurant owner Roxy Taschuk wasn’t optimistic about the state of her industry when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“I thought ‘There’s no way that any restaurant’s going to survive this,’” said Taschuk, who owns Haywoods Grill in Saskatoon.
Her business has evolved, moving to takeout orders and deliveries, and a small “grocery store” that’s taken over the now defunct bar.
'A whole new world' for CFL
As COVID-19 continues to shut down sporting events across the globe, a former Roughriders’ CEO says it could be the greatest threat the CFL has ever faced.
“We’re in a whole new world here,” Jim Hopson said.
The league almost went bankrupt in the 1990s. Hopson, a hall of famer, says the global pandemic might have more serious repercussions.
Mother's Day distance
At the end of the province's daily COVID-19 briefing on Friday, Premier Scott Moe's voice trembled slightly as he reflected on how Mother's Day would feel different for many Saskatchewan families this weekend.
"Myself, like many others, will not be spending this Mother's Day with my mom or the mother of my children," Moe said.
"I would take this very selfish opportunity to wish both o them a very happy Mother's day and to the rest of the mothers in the province I would just say thank you, thank you for all you do."
On Thursday the province's health authority said floral arrangements and dry paper gifts such as cards, letters, books, photos and artwork, will now be allowed. in long term care homes and acute care facilities.
Search for pet parrot
Anne Helgason has been searching for Tia, her 18-year-old parrot, after she unexpectedly flew away Thursday while spending time in her backyard.
According to Helgason, Tia was accustomed to spending time outside but she had never flown away because her wings were often clipped.
However, due to COVID-19 that service became postponed, causing Tia’s wings to grow and allowing her to fly.
Some say checkpoints hampering efforts to help
A La Loche resident is concerned about checkpoints and whether they’re preventing people from bringing food and other essentials into the community.
“When outsiders are trying to help, they’re preventing it. It doesn’t make sense,” Chester Herman said.
A Buffalo Narrows woman, Shari Janvier, has been trying to organize food hampers but said she’s having trouble getting past the checkpoints in La Loche to drop them off.
RCMP respond to over 100 complaints
RCMP in Saskatchewan dealt with a total of 104 complaints related to COVID-19 public health orders from May 1 to May 7.
Thirteen of the complaints were related to people not self-isolating when allegedly required to do so, RCMP said.
Prince Albert outbreak over
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has ended its outbreak declaration at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.
The SHA declared the outbreak on Friday, May 1 after a patient there tested positive for COVID-19.
At the time, Medical Health Officer Dr. Khami Chokani said the outbreak was declared due to how long the COVID-19 positive patient stayed in the hospital without knowledge of their condition.
SGI to restart some road tests
Road tests will be available for people working in agriculture and health care starting next week, according to Saskatchewan Government Insurance.
“We recognize that some people have a pressing need for a driver’s licence,” Kwei Quaye, SGI Vice President of Traffic Safety, said in a news release.
“Health-care workers are providing essential care and we need to ensure they can operate the required vehicles or drive to work or other locations to provide important medical services. Agriculture has been deemed critical to ensure food production continues.
Summer camp in question
If public health restrictions don’t change, youth camps will be cancelled and registration fees will be refunded, said Bernie Vossen, manager of John Bosco Wilderness Camp.
On April 30, the Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab issued a public health order restricting all non-critical travel, including those with primary residences, into and out of the province’s north.
Vossen said he hopes the order is lifted soon or updated to allow their camp volunteers in to do maintenance on their youth camp at Zeden and Ispuchaw Lakes.
Job losses in Sask.
Saskatchewan’s unemployment rose to 11.3 per cent in April, according to new numbers released by Statistics Canada.
The number rose from 7.3 per cent in March.
The province saw 52,900 job losses from March to April, including 39,900 full-time jobs, the Labour Force Survey says.
Thursday recap
On Thursday, the province reported 19 new COVID-19 cases, all in the northern half of the province.
Saskatchewan's far north continued to be the hotspot in the province for the virus, with 15 of the new cases concentrated there.
Of Saskatchewan's 194 active cases, 138 were located in the far north as of Thursday.
The remaining four new cases were found in the north part of the province, where 36 active cases were located according to the province.
The Northern grocery store in La Loche is temporarily closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, according to the store’s Facebook page.
The employee last worked at the store on Monday, the Facebook post said. The store said all staff are being tested for COVID-19 Thursday and Friday.
With the outbreak in the Lloydminster Hospital stable, according to the province, Lloydminster can implement the first phase of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan starting Monday.
Services and businesses must follow the phased approach and safety procedures required under the plan, according to a news release.
The City of Saskatoon said it plans to go ahead with many of its pre-pandemic plans to tackle aging watermains, roads and sidewalks.
On Thursday the University of Saskatchewan anounced it would freeze tuition for the 2020-21 school year for a majority of its programs.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic also annouced a tuition freeze.
Also on Thursday the province said the current school year will not resume..
