Whether it's state of emergency business closures or social distancing measures, something the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the provincial government are doing to curtail the spread of COVID-19 is working. On the afternoon of Friday, April 17, they announced two new cases of COVID-19 in the province with nine more recoveries.

The latest total means there are now 75 active cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. Six of these cases are in hospital (with one in intensive care) meaning one of the seven hospitalized patients from the previous day is among the recoveries.

One of the new cases appears to be travel related (bringing the total to 133) while the other is community contact (bringing the total there to 129). People in the 20-39 age range are still the most likely people to get the virus with 110 cases out of the Province's 307. There are 23 cases of people aged 19 or younger.

228 of the 307 cases of had full recoveries from the virus, which is a 74.3 % recovery rate. Four people have died from the virus in Saskatchewan. One more person has recovered from the virus in the central region, to bring the active number down to 2, with 10 confirmed cases, and one death. 

The age categories of persons with COVID-19 has also been changed to more closely align with national data, now that there is sufficient numbers to protect privacy. Information is now being reported on the following age ranges: 19 and under, ages 20 to 39, ages 40 to 59, ages 60 to 79, and ages 80 plus.

Total cases for 19 and under is 23, 20 to 39 is the highest with 110, 40-59 is second with 105, 60 to 79 has 62, and 80 plus has 7 total cases for the grand total of 307 with one being presumptive in the 40-59 range from the far north.

The provincial government have issued a public order to protect seniors.

“As of April 28, 2020, long-term care and personal care homes must ensure that each staff member works in only one facility. A care home may seek approval from a medical health officer to permit a staff member to work in more than one facility if they are unable to ensure adequate staffing levels as a result of complying with this order,” the release said. “At all times while on shift, all staff members in long-term care, personal care, and affiliate care homes shall wear, at minimum, a procedural/surgical mask. Additional personal protective equipment may be required to perform care or procedures, and those guidelines must be followed.”

Visitor restrictions remain in effect.

To date, 22,207 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. Saskatchewan continues to have the second-highest rate of testing per capita among provinces that have reported.

Despite the provincial caseload lowering once again, nationally there are now nearly 32,000 cases, with over 1,300 deaths recorded. Fifty five deaths were recorded in Ontario on Friday.