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Family physician Dr. Laura Tanyi-Remarck and her colleagues are working long days in the town of La Loche, ground zero for Saskatchewan's COVID-19 response. The vast majority of the province's active cases — 151 of the 199 total active cases reported as of Monday — are in the community, located about 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, and the neighbouring…

TORONTO -- Health Canada has approved a test that can detect antibodies specific to COVID-19 in an individual’s blood, allowing Canadian labs to take a significant step forward in understanding immunity against the disease. The test is the first of its kind to be approved in Canada and will help scientists determine whether a person was exposed to COVID-19 and, more importantly, whether or…

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) says it has added another step to its referral process for COVID-19 testing after two Saskatoon residents raised concerns about delays.  Tobi-Dawne Smith told CBC last week that it took five days to get tested after she was told she would get a call to arrange an appointment.  Smith, who said she had symptoms similar to those of the virus,…

The senior medical health officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority has warned that stigmatizing COVID-19 is preventing some people from getting tested.  "I have seen some people stigmatized during this pandemic: those who are sick with COVID-19, emergency or health-care professionals and other essential workers, people from northern communities, and Indigenous people," said…

Some leaders say confusion around provincial checkpoints scattered throughout northern Saskatchewan are creating stress and anxiety for communities already under pressure due to the pandemic. At the end of April, the provincial government put in place heavy restrictions on travel in the region, which includes instructions for people to stay in their home communities, unless they're…