The Saskatchewan Health Authority has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in two Hutterite communities located in the RM of Maple Creek #111.

Two members of a rural household tested positive last week, and Wednesday evening the SHA announced 14 new confirmed cases were verified.

The SHA confirmed those 14 additional cases were linked to the colonies.

In a public notice on their Facebook page, the town of Maple Creek has announced that its town office is again closing its doors and returning to conducting business through telephone, email, or regular mail for the time being.

Contact tracing and active case finding is underway in targeted areas of the R.M. Cases are being investigated for connection to inter-provincial travel to Alberta as well as travel in the area.

It is important to clarify that this outbreak involves only two specific colonies within the RM of Maple Creek.  It does not in any way involve other colonies in the south.