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. 

'We're flying solo'

A grocery store in La Loche has had to close after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, leaving CenterPoint Grocery and Pharmacy to serve the whole community.

“We’re basically it in town, the only ones open. We’re flying solo,” Chai Daongam, the owner of CenterPoint, told CTV News.

Flag on the field

CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie says the most likely scenario for the league is a cancelled 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ambrosie made the admission for the first time while testifying to a House of Commons standing committee on finance Thursday.

"Unlike large US-based leagues, our biggest source of revenue is not TV - it's ticket sales," Ambrosie said. "Governments coping with COVID 19 - for reasons of public health that we totally support - have made it impossible for us to do what we do.

La Loche grocery store worker tests positive

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. 

All 19 new COVID-19 cases in Sask. north

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.

Bracing for changes

The season could look very different for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chief Athletics Officer for Huskies Athletics, Dave Hardy, says a best case scenario would see the team play five games, likely starting in October.

"No question, the best case scenario is a five game schedule,” says Hardy. “I think training camp would begin at the beginning of September with a schedule beginning in October.”

Lloydminster to start reopening

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.

School year will not resume

Students across Saskatchewan will not be returning to their classrooms for the rest of this school year, the Ministry of Education says.

 

“As students continue to learn remotely, we encourage students and families to continue to take advantage of the supplemental learning opportunities being provided by teachers,” the ministry said in an emailed statement.

 

Province to pay revenue sharing cash to cities early  

Municipal Revenue Sharing funds will now be paid out to Saskatchewan communities entirely in June, rather than in installments throughout the year, the province announced Thursday.

 

“The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to ensuring that all municipalities in the province have the resources in place to navigate these challenging times,” Government Relations Minister Lori Carr said. “This stable, consistent, no strings attached funding for municipalities can be invested in programs and services as the community sees fit.”

Changes for Ag in Motion

Ag in Motion will be a digital-only event this year, as organizers have determined show can’t safely accommodate its thousands attendees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The safety of our exhibitors, sponsors, attendees, partners, volunteers and staff, suppliers and local communities is of the utmost importance to us,” show director Rob O’Connor said in a news release.

“We considered such things as limiting group sizes within the show site, distributing hand sanitizer to every attendee, ramping up cleaning protocols, and more, but when it came down to it, the risk is too high for our guests and staff."

COVID-19 meets construction season

The City of Saskatoon says it plans to go ahead with many of its pre-pandemic plans to tackle aging watermains, roads and sidewalks.

“In this unprecedented time we are adjusting and will readjust our practices as necessary to get this important work done,” said Terry Schmidt, general manager of transportation and construction.

How outbreaks are defined

In a press conference on Friday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority is planning to provide greater clarity about what defines an outbreak.

 

On Tuesday evening, officials  declared an outbreak at Meadow Lake Hospital  after a health care worker received a positive COVID-19 test result. 

No grads at Saskatoon Public Schools

All in-person graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020 in the Saskatoon Public Schools division are cancelled due to the province’s restrictions on gatherings.

“This decision is heartbreaking, but it is made to protect the health and well-being of our community. The safety of our students, families, and staff members is paramount,” the division said in a May 5 post on its website.

Tuition freezes

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 announced on Thursday a zero per cent tuition increase for Canadian and international students for the 2020-21 academic year.

“It is critical that we remain focused on the future and on our mission to educate students, and provide skilled and successful graduates,” Larry Rosia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic president and CEO, said in a news release.

Wednesday recap

Saskatchewan surpassed 500 COVID-19 cases after the  province reported 25 new known cases  on Wednesday, with 24 of the new cases found in the far north.

The province now sits at 512 cases. Of those cases, 194 are considered active with 138 concentrated in the province's far north.

Two more people have recovered have recovered from the virus, for a provincial total of 312.

On Wednesday the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) say decisions being made about reopening Saskatchewan  are based on several points of data.

One of them is the Effective Reproductive Number (ERN). It shows the average amount of people one person with the novel coronavirus is likely to infect factoring in interventions.

An ERN of 1.0 means one person is likely to infect one other person with the virus. As of April 25, the ERN was 0.7. The SHA says by May 2, it had climbed to 0.97.

 

A staff member at Meadow Lake Hospital  tested positive for COVID-19,  according to the SHA.

The case was linked to community transmission, the health authority said in a news release. No patients have presented with symptoms of COVID-19.