Increased COVID-19 Variants of Concern in Tisdale

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is alerting the public of an increased risk of COVID-19 variants of concern in Tisdale and is strongly urging residents to:

• In public spaces, maintain two metres from others and wear a mask.
• Avoid gatherings, particularly indoors, at this time.
• Keep to your household bubble. Gatherings between households remain a primary driver of transmission.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.
• If you are able to work from home, work from home at this time. If you cannot, ensure that you are following all the guidelines in your workplace. Do not share any food or drink in the workplace, even in break rooms.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Do not touch your eyes, nose, mouth or mask with unwashed hands.

• If you develop any symptoms, stay home and get tested as soon as possible. Testing is an important way to detect the COVID-19 virus and its variants early and stop the spread. Call HealthLine 811 or your physician for a referral for testing or visit your local drive-thru testing site.

• When you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, get one. All vaccines are safe and effective, including against variants. Current vaccine information can be found at saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-vaccine.

Variants of concern are dangerous; they are highly contagious, transmitting more quickly and to more people within the community. The increased spread of COVID-19 and its variants result in more illness, hospitalizations and deaths. Many of those falling ill are much younger than previously seen during the pandemic.

COVID-19 and its variants are transmitted through coughing and sneezing (aerosol and droplet transmission), and by touching surfaces with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.

Memorize and recognize the symptoms of COVID-19 and its variants: fever, cough, headache, muscle and/or joint aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, dizziness, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite (difficulty feeding for children), loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing. Stay home and arrange for immediate testing if you have any mild symptoms or develop only one or two symptoms. 

Additional information on variants of concern is available online along with all case numbers including those cases confirmed as variants of concern.

All members of the public are also reminded of the following:

• Get tested: Learn more about testing and regularly take the online self-assessment at Saskatchewan.ca/COVID19. Call HealthLine 811 or your physician for a referral.
• Get vaccinated: At this time, the risk of contracting COVID-19 is not determined by age but by immunization status. The data is clear that the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from serious illness and death is to be fully immunized.
• Care for yourself and others: Anyone at any age can contract COVID-19. Be kind to each other and to health-care workers.
• Download the COVID-19 Alert app: The Health Canada COVID Alert app is available to all Saskatchewan residents at no cost in the Apple and Google Play app store. The app is another tool available to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 by letting people know of possible exposures without sharing any personal information. For more information, visit the COVID-19 Apps webpage.