Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, speaks with media on March 12, 2020 at the Saskatchewan Legislature. (Evan Radford/980)

By CKOM News Staff

Numbers have doubled

Province announces 8 new presumptive cases of COVID-19; total now 16

Mar 18, 2020 | 2:17 PM

Saskatchewan’s cases of COVID-19 have doubled.

The province announced Wednesday that it has eight new presumptive cases, bringing the total number of cases in Saskatchewan to 16.

Two cases are confirmed and 14 are presumptive.

In a media release, the province said one of the new cases may not have a link to travel, which could signal community transmission.

The release also said that all people who were on Sunwing flights WG540 from Cancun, Mexico to Regina and WG496 from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to Regina on March 14 should self-isolate and watch for symptoms.

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The province’s chief medical officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, reiterated in the release that residents must take precautions to help avoid the potential spread of the coronavirus.

“This is a critical time for all individuals and organizations to ensure that they are practising social distancing, staying home whenever possible and absolutely staying home when you are ill, even with mild symptoms,” Shahab said.

“We have an instance where the contact investigation has not yet demonstrated a link to travel, which could signal local transmission. We will also see more cases linked to travel within Canada. Limit all non-essential travel at this time as part of the provincial and national effort to prevent transmission.”

The province said 15 of the 16 cases are well enough to self-isolate at home. One of the presumptive positive cases has been hospitalized for medical reasons not related to COVID-19.

The eight newest cases include:

• A person in their 30s who was tested in Regina;
• A person in their 40s who was tested following close contact with a previously announced presumptive positive case in Saskatchewan;
• A person in their 20s who was tested in Saskatoon following travel from Tennessee;
• An individual in their 20s who was tested in Saskatoon following travel to Oregon, Nevada and Edmonton;
• A person who was tested in Moose Jaw following a trip from Vancouver;
• A person who was tested in Regina following a trip from Cancun;
• An individual who was tested in Regina following travel from Cabo San Lucas; and,
• An individual in their 40s who was tested in Saskatoon following a trip from Vancouver.

The government has said that everyone returning from international travel, including the United States, must self-isolate for 14 days upon return to Canada.