The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre has 90 cases linked to it, as of Wednesday.

This is an increase from 84 cases reported on Monday.

Of the 90 cases, 14 are patients, including 4 in ICU, 32 healthcare staff, 6 visitors and 38 are secondary. Secondary cases mean someone connected to a family member or transmission of the virus inside the facility.

Outbreaks were declared in the ICU January 17, and the 1st East and West inpatient medical units January 19.

However, Janna-Lea Yawney, the Interim Director of Acute Care for the Yorkton area, says the suspect outbreaks at the 2nd West Obstetrics and 2nd South Pediatrics and Medicine Units should be nearing the end of the 2 weeks it is declared suspect “because there has not been any further cases attributed to those units.”

The Saskatchewan Government defines suspect outbreaks as “one confirmed case of COVID-19 in a non-household setting will prompt a public health investigation.”

Non-household settings include, but are not limited to, hospitals, long-term care and integrated facilities, personal care homes, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, group homes, congregate/communal living settings, mass gatherings, events, workplaces, places of worship, daycares, universities, colleges, schools.

By labelling it suspect for 14 days, Yawney says, it ensures there is no movement in or out of that unit to prevent any further risk or exposure.

While the outbreak continues, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Yawney says the vaccine will be made available to healthcare staff.

“Some of the staff at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre will receive that vaccine Thursday and Friday,” she said. “The education and training for vaccine administration for the rest of staff and the public is ongoing, so that we’re ready to start immunizing staff once its available.”