The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has declared a community transmitted outbreak in Saskatoon stemming from one confirmed case and one presumptive case of COVID-19 from May 21 and 26. Dr. Johnmark Opondo, medical health officer with the SHA, officially declared the outbreak on Wednesday.
Dr. Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer for Saskatchewan’s ministry of health, said the cases come from a two large family gatherings that happened early in May and that exceeded ten people as listed in the public health order.
“The contact tracing investigation involves more than 60 people and involves cases linked to one or more gatherings,” stated Dr. Shahab during his address on Wednesday from the Saskatchewan Legislature.
The SHA has confirmed that the outbreak is not linked to transmission at a health care facility and has not resulted in any hospitalizations at this point.
“They were family events likely outdoors and likely involving a barbecue,” added Dr. Shahab.
“We already know that getting together around food is a high risk. We have had large transmission events in the past before the gathering limits were reduced.”
The SHA shared that every single positive case of COVID-19, Public Health will interview the case to determine with whom they have had contact during their infectious period.
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