COVID-19 in Sask: Province announces 6th death, 17 new cases, cluster in Lloydminster

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) says a sixth person has died in the province from COVID-19 and 17 more cases have been identified, mostly in the northern portion of the province.

The death was a person in their 80s, who had been living in the far north region. It's the second such death in the region, after another man from La Loche died on Sunday.

Eleven of the 17 new cases are in La Loche. Five are in the north region, which includes four new cases in Lloydminster. The number of active cases is now 86 throughout the province with 52 in the far north region. 

SHA says a cluster has been identified in Lloydminster Hospital, where 13 cases have been identified, including the four announced Wednesday.

Eight are patients and five are health care workers in the hospital. 

"Transmission has occurred in the hospital setting," said a news release.

The province said Lloydminster Hospital will still accept COVID-19 patients, but someone requiring admission for another ailment may be diverted to another hospital.

Ten people are hospitalized in the province, with three of those patients are in the intensive care unit in Saskatoon. Four of the hospitalizations are in Lloydminster, while the other three non-intensive care patients are in Saskatoon.

The number of cases linked to travel sits at 137 since the pandemic was first detected. Mass gatherings or close contact have been linked to another 154 cases.

Thirty-five cases have no known source of transmission, a likely sign of community transmission. Fifty-seven cases remain under investigation. 

No recoveries were announced Wednesday. Saskatchewan has administered 29,106 tests so far after another 474 tests on Tuesday.