By Medicine Hat News on July 14, 2020.
Positive cases of the coronavirus are spreading in Southwest Saskatchewan, the province’s health authority reported Monday as the number of new cases increased. Thirty-one new cases of COVID-19 infections were reported, following 23 on July 12 and just two on July 11. “Previously reported COVID-19 infections in the Southwest now stretch farther, and there is growing evidence of spread throughout Southwest and West-Central Saskatchewan,” according to a release from the Saskatchewan Health Authority following its morning update. That includes positive tests in the RM of Maple Creek, where an outbreak two weeks ago was reported, plus new cases in nearby rural municipalities of Carmichael, Lac Pelletier and Auverge (south of Swift Current, near Val Marie). In east-central Saskatchewan, cases are located in the RMs of Biggar and Perdue. Contact tracing will take place over the next several days. Case at Brooks bank Chinook Credit Union is temporarily closing a branch in Brooks to perform a deep clean and reassure clients after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus, the bank announced on Monday. A release states that the employee who tested proactive on Friday, July 10 was last in the location, at 99 Second Street W., one week ago. “Although the employee was last in the branch on Monday, July 6… (and) hasn’t been in the branch for seven days, we are still closing the branch temporarily to facilitate a deep clean in addition to the daily sanitizing and cleaning that already occurs,” reads a statement from Connect First Credit Union head Paul Kelly. Other employees are being asked to self monitor their health and take an Alberta Health survey on their conditions to see if further testing is required. Anyone who attended the branch that day is asked to do the same. 12