Hutterite colony near Swift has spike in COVID cases; Sask. adds 60
By Medicine Hat News on July 23, 2020.
A jump in positive COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan is being attributed to a Hutterite Colony near Swift Current, according to a release on Wednesday afternoon by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Across that province, 60 new cases were reported, including 43 on “single communal living setting” in the Rural Municipality of Lawtonia, southeast of Swift Current. In total 50 new cases were recorded in the south and east-central regions, and officials state that 17 different Hutterite colonies have at least one active case in 17 different RMs, including Maple Creek, Webb, Saskatchewan Landing and others in the southwest. Saskatchewan has 190 active cases in total, while another 825 are considered recovered. The Saskatchewan Health Authority signalled that it was expecting a rise in cases as it continued with contact tracing after new cases appeared in the southwest region. Officials also brought back restrictions at health-care and long-term-care facilities that had been lifted earlier this month as part of the reopen plan. Officials have also stated that they are working with the colonies’ leadership and the Hutterian Safety Council on how to control the outbreaks. 7-6
