The Saskatchewan Health Authority has identified several Rural Municipalities as having increased risk of transmission of COVID-19. They are in the southwest and west central areas of the province. This comes as a result of what the SHA describes as aggressive contact tracing and testing. Some of these individuals are linked to known chains of transmission and some individuals have no known source for their infection. A number of Hutterite communities in these municipalities are affected. This overall increased level of COVID-19 activity means there is an increased risk of transmission to the public in these areas.

Affected RMs:

• Maple Creek (No. 111)
• Auvergne (No. 76)
• Biggar (No. 347)
• City of Swift Current
• Eagle Creek (No. 376)
• Grandview #349
• Harris (No. 316)
• Kellross #247
• Lac Pelletier (No. 107)
• Newcombe (No. 260)
• Perdue (No. 346)
• Pleasant Valley #288
• Prairiedale (No. 321)
• Tramping Lake #380

The SHA is reminding Saskatchewan residents to follow public health orders to limit the spread of COVID-19 by maintaining physical distancing of two metres of separation, implement proper hand hygiene practices and limit the size of indoor and outdoor gatherings.

It is important that anyone with symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, headaches, aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose or a loss of sense of taste or smell, should protect themselves and others, especially the vulnerable, by staying home, self-isolating and getting tested for COVID-19.

Testing is also now universally available to anyone who requests it, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not. A referral for testing can be made by contacting HealthLine 811.