The first two deaths related to complications from COVID-19 have been reported in Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Health Authority will be redeploying staff to help identify contact cases of the virus.
The fatalities were both individuals in their 70s, and were located in different parts of the province.
The health authority is also reporting 20 new confirmed cases in the province, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 176, and six more individuals have recovered from the virus for a provincial total of 14.
Five individuals are currently in hospital due to COVID-19 symptoms and complications, with one case in the north, three in Saskatoon, and one in Regina.
The provincial government has promised they will be redeploying staff with key skill sets to critical areas of the province. Fifty more staff members will be joining the 150 people from the SHA already working on identifying individuals who have been in contact with the virus.
Saskatchewan now has 40 communities in which coronavirus testing is available by referral, including Moose Jaw, and public health says testing locations will continue to expand as need increases.
So far, the provincial laboratory has done 9,651 COVID-19 tests, an increase of 565 since yesterday.
A list of communities with testing locations and more information about COVID-19 in Saskatchewan can be found at saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.
