What is an outbreak?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, the Saskatchewan Health Authority has declared a number of outbreaks across the province. This has many people asking what determines a COVID-19 outbreak.
The declaration of a COVID-19 outbreak is primarily used by Public Health to coordinate a response to the infection. It is not necessarily an indicator of risk to the public.
The definition of an outbreak varies by setting. For example, in acute healthcare facilities, long-term care homes and personal care homes, an outbreak is declared when one person (a patient, resident or healthcare worker) tests positive for COVID-19. In the community, an outbreak is declared when two or more individuals test positive and where transmission likely occurred during an event or from the same exposure in the community during a specified time period.
When an outbreak is declared and there is a risk to the public, a public health advisory is issued. All advisories are located on the Government of Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 website.