SASKATOON -- A Saskatoon hotel owner says a COVID-19 outbreak among his guests forced him to temporarily shut the doors.
The Confederation Inn in Saskatoon saw an outbreak of COVID-19 cases that resulted in a temporary closure so staff could clean and sanitize the hotel.
“We found out after he had been here for a few days that he got sick while he was here,” Confederation Inn owner Brian Sawatzky said.
“He went to the hospital and they tested him and found out he was positive for COVID.”
Sawatzky tells CTV News the man that tested positive is from Northern Saskatchewan and is a regular at the inn.
The SHA said it doesn't know if these cases have a connection to cases in the northern Saskatchewan.
Sawatzky added that two friends of the man also tested positive, and an additional two were tested but he hasn’t heard back about the results.
“The SHA (Saskatchewan Health Authority) recommended that we put these people in self isolation, so we put them in their rooms and they stayed in their rooms. The fellow that started all this, he stayed in the hospital,” Sawatzky said.
Sawatzky said those guests have since been moved and his hotel is now completely empty as he and his staff working to disinfect everything before opening up.
“I have to communicate with the SHA and get some advice from them and make sure I have staffing set up.” Sawatzky said.
SHA medical health officer Dr. Johnmark Opondo confirmed a cluster of COVID-19 cases in Saskatoon. He confirmed the cases are connected to the Confederation Inn, adding that the hotel followed public health orders.
"On follow-up inspection the facility was found to have implemented all the social distancing recommendations included in the Public Health Order such as limiting new guests, providing only individually-packed meals and following recommended social distancing orders for staff and guests while present at the hotel premises," he said. "Right now, the contract tracing process is ongoing to determine any potential contacts related to these cases."
Dr. Opondo added the Confederation Inn has been a partner with the SHA in helping to provide temporary housing for some patients with specialized health-care needs prior to and during the pandemic.
"We have worked closely with them to ensure public health measures, including increased disinfecting measures, have been taken," he said.
For every single positive case of COVID-19, the SHA said a contact tracing investigation begins, and the patient is notified of the positive result, and provided direction about care. Each positive case of COVID-19 may generate multiple contacts.
The SHA said its goal is to have individuals traced and then contacted within 24 hours.
