During Premier Scott Moe and chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab’s daily COVID-19 update on Friday, it was announced an assisted living worker in Regina tested positive for COVID-19.
The employee works at the Eden Care assisted living facility in Regina. According to the province, there are no indications it has spread to other employees or residents.
Moe said the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is implementing further measures to decrease the risk of spread.
Temperature checks and symptom checks will now occur before every shift for workers in care settings. Moe also said the visitor restrictions already in place will remain, meaning there is no visitation to long-term care facilities unless it is for compassionate reasons.
The facility is now closed to admissions, discharges and transfers. Residents who have been in close contact with the employee will be isolated and monitored twice daily for 14 days.
“So far we have been fortunate that our long-term care facilities and other such care homes have not seen similar outbreaks,” said Moe.
“We must remain vigilant in our efforts to reduce the risk in these facilities and the residents within,” he added.
SHA Regina medical health officer Dr. Maurice Hennink said the individual was identified through a contact tracing process with other positive individuals.
“In this way, we were able to intervene positively and early as best we could,” said Hennink.
Shahab added there are many measures in place to license additional health care and other professionals.
“Retired employees are now going to have an easier and quicker way to get re-licensed to provide urgent care,” said Shahab.
Shahab said the Ministry of Health has been working with professional health bodies to put measures in place to provide temporary licences for retired non-practising and student members.
He added the Saskatchewan government is covering the fees for these professionals, which can cost several hundred dollars per member, according to Shahab.
