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According to Shahab, the patient is well enough to self-isolate and only had close contact with one other person within the home.

“That person is also being monitored by public health and, if they develop symptoms, they will be tested,” Shahab said.

“We are confident, in this case, it has been contained,” he added.

Public health is still reviewing the case “in extreme detail,” according to Shahab. That means following up to make sure there weren’t any additional contacts, and confirming whether there were any symptoms during travel.

Shahab had no conclusive information on whether the patient visited any Saskatchewan communities outside Saskatoon, but believed it was unlikely.

He said “all options are being considered” to facilitate testing for Saskatchewan people who show symptoms of COVID-19. That could include setting up assessment centres in larger communities.

Beyond the one positive, so far there have been 285 tests performed in Saskatchewan, with 263 negative results and 22 results still pending.

Shahab acknowledged it’s likely most people will contract the virus that causes COVID-19 sooner or later, in light of federal estimates that somewhere between 30 and 70 per cent of Canadians will become infected. He said the aim is to slow down exposures so they don’t happen all at once.

“That will put tremendous strain on the healthcare system,” said Shahab.

As of now, he expects most new cases to be connected to travel. But if the virus begins spreading within Saskatchewan communities, slowing transmission may call for more drastic measures.