We are very thankful to have a team of volunteers in the community who have come together to help out during this difficult time. If you are in need of assistance, please call the town office (306) 792-2022 or email: kathy.springside@sasktel.net and we can connect you with a volunteer.  Outside of regular office hours please feel free to reach out directly to the Springside Baptist Church.   The Springside Baptist Church has mobilized volunteers to help out if you are in need of childcare OR grocery pickup please contact the Springside Baptist Church by email: office@springsidebaptist.com or call Pastor Mike: 306-621-9622.  This offer of assistance is open to everyone in our community not only the adherents of the Baptist Church.

Released on October 22, 2020

There are 60 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on October 22, 2020, bringing the total to 2,558 cases.  The new cases are located in the Far North West (2), Far North East (6), North West (4), North Central (13), North East (3), Saskatoon (21), Central West (1), Central East (1), Regina (4), South West (1), South Central (1) and South East (2) zones and one (1) case has pending residence location.

Two Saskatchewan residents tested out-of-province have been added to the total case counts.  One case has been assigned to the North West zone and one case has pending residence location.  A death that occurred in April 2020 has been reassigned from Saskatoon to the Far North West zone.

Public health investigations are underway to determine the source of transmission for all new cases.  Of the 2,558 reported cases, 509 are considered active.  A total of 2,024 people have recovered.

Twenty-one people are in hospital.  Eighteen people are receiving inpatient care; 10 in the Saskatoon zone, two in the Regina zone, six in the North Central zone.  Three people are in intensive care; two in Saskatoon and one in Regina.

Of the 2,558 cases in the province to date:

• 335 cases are travellers;
• 1,276 are community contacts (including mass gatherings);
• 682 have no known exposures; and
• 265 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan to date:

• 82 cases are healthcare workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to healthcare in all instances.
• 475 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults.
• 897 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 741 are in the 40-59 age range; 368 are in the 60-79 age range; and 77 are in the 80-plus range.
• 51 per cent of the cases are females and 49 per cent are males.
• 25 deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.
• There are:
  • 559 cases are from the Saskatoon area
  • 476 cases are from the south area (228 south west, 211 south central, 37 south east)
  • 464 cases are from the north area (159 north west, 207 north central, 98 north east)
  • 424 cases are from the far north area (374 far north west, 0 far north central, 50 far north east)
  • 349 cases are from the central area (196 central west, 153 central east)
  • 284 cases are from the Regina area
  • Two (2) cases have pending residence location

To date, 240,203 COVID-19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan.  As of October 20, 2020 when other provincial and national numbers are available from PHAC, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 163,966 people tested per million population.  The national rate was 235,543 people tested per million population.

Yesterday, 2,190 COVID-19 tests were performed in Saskatchewan.

Weekly Reporting of Testing Numbers and Cases for Youth

Monitoring the trends of COVID-19 cases in school-aged children, the weekly report of cases and testing numbers for children aged 0-19 with data by age categories and testing positivity rates has been posted for the week of October 12-18 at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-Safe-Schools-Plan.  Reports will be published Thursdays.

As of October 18, for those aged 0 to 19 years, 44,269 tests have been performed with 1.0 per cent positivity rate, which is in line with the provincial positivity rate of 1.0 per cent.  A total of 431 cases have been identified since the pandemic event began in the province.

• 0-4 years: 10,449 tests and 83 cases
• 5 to 13 years: 18,845 tests and 164 cases
• 14 to 19 years: 14,975 tests and 184 cases

COVID-19 Testing

A referral for testing can be made by contacting HealthLine 811, your physician or nurse practitioner. If you require urgent care, call 911.

Further information on testing, including drive-thru testing locations, is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-testing.

General COVID-19 Information

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

Find the most up-to-date version of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan at www.saskatchewan.ca/re-open.

Released on October 19, 2020

The influenza vaccine is available to Saskatchewan residents today, October 19, 2020.  The Government of Saskatchewan is encouraging everyone to get their flu shot this season to help prevent the spread of influenza.

“Getting a flu shot provides double protection—for yourself and also for those close to you,” Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said.  “It is a vaccine that is freely available, proven to be safe, and is particularly important this year during flu season as part of our ongoing efforts to mitigate the additional challenges to our provincial health care system from COVID-19.  We encourage everyone to do their part to help keep Saskatchewan’s communities as healthy as possible.”

Flu shots are recommended for those at higher risk, including seniors, people with underlying chronic health conditions, children under five, and pregnant women.  Seniors often have chronic health conditions (like heart or lung disease or diabetes) and weaker immune systems, which makes them particularly vulnerable to complications from influenza.

Flu shots will be available to residents at pharmacists, physicians, local public health offices and flu clinics.  Please visit https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/Services-Locations/flu for up-to-date information on where and when clinics will take place.

There will be modifications to where and how flu shots will be administered this year.  To accommodate public health precautions due to COVID-19, there will be increased physical distancing and sanitization procedures.

Weekly Reporting of Testing Numbers and Cases for Youth

Monitoring the trends of COVID-19 cases in school-aged children, the weekly report of cases and testing numbers for children aged 0-19 with data by age categories and testing positivity rates has been posted for the week of October 5-11 at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-Safe-Schools-Plan.  Reports will be published Thursdays.

Private Gathering Sizes Reduced Starting October 16

With the increasing rise in cases throughout Saskatchewan linked to public and private social gatherings, the Public Health order on gathering sizes in private residences is being amended so that the maximum allowable gathering size for private gatherings in the home will be 15.  This will be in effect as of Friday, October 16.

This will not impact restaurants, licensed establishments, banquet halls as well as weddings, funerals and religious gatherings which are all required to follow seating and physical distancing guidelines as described in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/re-open-saskatchewan-plan. Any event that occurs in a private dwelling, including weddings, religious gathering and funerals, must abide by the 15 person gathering limit.

COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 testing is available to anyone who requests it.  A referral for testing can be made by contacting HealthLine 811, your physician or nurse practitioner.  If you require urgent care, call 911.

Further information on testing is available at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/testing-information.

General COVID-19 Information

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

Find the most up-to-date version of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan at www.saskatchewan.ca/re-open.

Thursday, October 8, 2020 in News Release

​​Saskatchewan Health Authority is notifying the public of potential exposure to COVID-19 at the following businesses where a person or persons attended while likely infectious:

• September 25 – Superstore, 206 Broadway St E, Yorkton from 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
• September 25 - Wal-Mart Supercentre, 240 Hamilton Road, Yorkton from 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. 
• September 26 - BPs Lounge (Boston Pizza) - 226 Broadway St E, Yorkton from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
  
• September 27 - Wal-Mart Supercentre, 240 Hamilton Road, Yorkton from 1:30 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
• September 27 – Superstore, 206 Broadway St E, Yorkton from 2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
• September 30  – Superstore, 206 Broadway St E, Yorkton from 5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• October 1 – 7-Eleven, 279 Broadway St E, Yorkton from 4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
• October 1 - Melrose Place, 516 Broadway St W, Yorkton from 5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.​
  

Public Health officials are advising individuals who were at these locations on the specified dates during the specified times to self-monitor for 14 days, and if you have had or develop symptoms of COVID-19, immediately self-isolate and call HealthLine 811, your physician or nurse practitioner to arrange for testing. It is important to note that individuals may develop symptoms from two to 14 days following exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. 

How to avoid getting sick:

• Keep at least 2 metres away from others when in public and wear a mask when that’s not possible.
• Limit gatherings to the numbers specified in public health orders.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

​Recognize the symptoms:  Stay home if you have symptoms and monitor yourself. Symptoms include: fever, cough, headache, muscle and/or joint aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, dizziness, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite (difficulty feeding for children), loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.

COVID-19 is in Saskatchewan: Protect yourself and your family at all times during the pandemic by following all public health recommendations and ensuring you do your part to stop the spread. COVID-19 is transmitted through coughing and sneezing (droplet transmission), and by touching surfaces with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands. Every day we are learning more about COVID-19 and other ways it may be transmitted.

​​Get tested: An online self-assessment is available at Saskatchewan.ca/COVID19 to determine if you need to get tested. Testing is universally available to anyone who requests it, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not. Please note that in accordance with the latest expert advice on COVID-19, testing for symptomatic people may be delayed until their symptoms have been present for 48 hours to minimize the number of false negative tests. Call HealthLine 811 or your physician for a referral.

Care for yourself and others: Remember, anyone at any age can contract COVID-19, so be kind to each other and follow the recommended practices.

​​COVID-19 Alert APP: The Health Canada COVID Alert app is available to all Saskatchewan residents at no cost in the Apple and Google Play app store. The app is another tool available to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 by letting people know of possible exposures without sharing any personal information. For more information, visit the COVID-19 Apps webpage​.​

Why issue an alert? Wh​en an individual tests positive for COVID-19, a contact investigation immediately follows where public health reaches out to anyone who may be linked to that individual with COVID-19 and provide them with information on testing and self-isolation. If health officials are uncertain that they have identified all known close contacts, they may take further action to notify the community about possible locations where individuals with COVID-19 may have attended while infectious. This is simply about notification to potential contacts, not about the business. Business may also communicate independently to their customers outside of the public health process. 

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 in News Release

​Saskatchewan Hea​lth Authority is notifying the public of potential exposure to COVID-19 at the following businesses where a person or persons attended while likely infectious: 

Prince Al​​​​bert

• September 27 – Safe​​way, 2995 - 2nd Ave West, South Hill Mall from 1:00pm – 2:00pm AND from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• October 4 - River P​ark Funeral Home, 301 River St W, from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

York​​​ton  

• ​October 1, 2 an​​d 3 - Pumphouse Athletic Club (PAC), 27 B - Second Avenue North, no specified time. (NOTE: This exposure is linked to symptomatic members attending the gym on these days. Despite the business having many procedures in place to disinfect the gym, exposure risk persists given this attendance.)

Public Heal​​th officials are advising individuals who were at these locations on the specified dates during the specified times to self-monitor for 14 days, and if you have had or develop symptoms of COVID-19, immediately self-isolate and call HealthLine 811, your physician or nurse practitioner to arrange for testing. It is important to note that individuals may develop symptoms from two to 14 days following exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. 

COVID-19 outbreak declared at Yorkton Regional Health Centre

Monday, September 28, 2020 in News Release

​The Saskat​​​chewan Health Authority (SHA) is advising of a cluster of COVID-19 cases in the Yorkton area and has declared an outbreak in the Yorkton Regional Health Centre as of September 27, 2020. The source of the outbreak in the hospital appears to be community transmission. Initial findings indicate contacts share a common source of exposure at a local fitness facility. All health care workers who have been identified as close contacts with the confirmed cases are being tested as the contact investigation continues.

The health and sa​fety of our patients and the employees who care for them is of utmost importance to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and keeping the people we serve and our employees and physicians healthy and safe is paramount to the work we do each and every day. 

Services remain available at the Yo​rkton Regional Health Centre and the public is reminded to access services at Yorkton Regional Health Centre when required. 

During the COVID-19 out​​break, please take precautions to protect yourself, your families and everyone who lives in the community. COVID-19 is present in many other communities across Saskatchewan and we all have a responsibility to minimize the spread of the disease.

Due to the increased number of pe​​ople who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Yorkton, visitation will be limited in the Yorkton Regional Health Centre and the Yorkton and District Nursing Home. This means family members and/or support people will only be permitted for compassionate reasons. No other visitors are allowed into the hospital or long term care home at this time and these enhanced restrictions will remain in place until further notice. The Saskatchewan Health Authority is asking families and the public for their support and cooperation in order to contain the spread of the virus. Outdoor visitation will continue where it is deemed safe to do so.

Compassionate care reasons m​​ay include, but are not limited to, family or support persons during end-of-life care, major surgery, intensive care/critical care, maternal/pediatrics, long term care residents whose quality of life or care needs are unmet or those inpatients and outpatients with specific challenges.   Detailed information about Compassionate Care can be found at saskatchewan.ca/covid19​.

Family members and support pe​​ople who are permitted under these exceptions must be verified and undergo a health screening prior to entering the facility or home. This includes a temperature check and questionnaire. The visitor will be required to perform hand hygiene (hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer) when entering and leaving the facility or home and when entering and leaving the patient's or resident’s room. Visitors will be required to wear a medical grade mask while inside the facility or home and potentially additional personal protective equipment if required. Visitors are not permitted to wait in waiting rooms or other common areas.

We acknowledge the importance of family support to those who are healing within our hospitals and residents of long-term care homes. However, we​​ are asking families and visitors for their cooperation in following these guidelines. Until we are able to safely allow visitors back into our health care facilities and long-term care homes, we encourage you to consider other ways to stay connected with your family members or friends in our hospitals and long-term care homes, such as phone calls or online means of communication. We encourage families to consider virtual visiting through electronic applications such as FaceTime, Skype and WhatsApp. 

Sunday, September 27, 2020 in News Release

​Saskatchewan Health Authority is notifying the public of potential exposure to COVID-19 at the following businesses in Yorkton and Regina where a person or persons attended while likely infectious:

• Sept. 14, 2020, from 9:10 to 10:30 a.m.• Sept .16, 2020, from 9:10 to 9:40 a.m.• Sept. 18, 2020, from 9:10 to 9:50 a.m.
• ​Sept. 22, 2020, from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m.

• ​Sept. 17, 2020, from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.

• Sept. 19, 2020, from 2 to 2:30 p.m.

• ​Sept 24, 2020, from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Public Health officials are advising individuals who were at these locations on the specified dates during the specified times to self-monitor for 14 days, and if you have had or develop symptoms of COVID-19, immediately self-isolate and call HealthLine 811 to arrange for testing. It is important to note that individuals may develop symptoms from two to 14 days following exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. 
Recognize the symptoms:  Stay home if you have symptoms and monitor yourself. Symptoms include: fever, cough, headache, muscle and/or joint aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, dizziness, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite (difficulty feeding for children), loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
Why issue an alert? When an individual tests positive for COVID-19, a contact investigation immediately follows where public health reaches out to anyone who may be linked to that individual with COVID-19 and provide them with information on testing and self-isolation. If health officials are uncertain that they have identified all known close contacts, they may take further action to notify the community about possible locations where individuals with COVID-19 may have attended while infectious.