Saskatchewan reported eight new cases of the novel coronavirus Saturday afternoon, two of which are presumptive, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 349.

Seven of the eight cases are in the far north, which has become the epicenter of active cases in Saskatchewan.

Of the 35 cases in the area, 32 are active which make up over half the province’s 57 active cases.

By comparison, there are nine active cases in Regina, seven active cases in Saskatoon, six active cases in northern Saskatchewan, two active cases in central Saskatchewan and one active case in the south.

Eight more recoveries have been reported, bringing the provincial total to 288 recoveries.

Four people are currently in hospital, two of which are receiving inpatient care while the other two are in the ICU.

Health officials say 138 cases in the province are travel-related. Cases linked to community contacts or mass gatherings hit 147. Another 34 have no known exposure and 31 remain under investigation by public health.

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Of the province’s cases, 37 cases are health-care workers.

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.

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