On Jan. 30, the WHO declared the coronavirus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The first confirmed cases of the disease in Italy on Jan. 31. By March, Europe was considered the active centre of the disease. On March 11, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Public facilities were closed down across east central Saskatchewan. Face-to-face teaching in schools ended. Public events were cancelled. Businesses closed down or found alternate ways to serve their customers. The first case the East Central Recorder could confirm in the region was in Humboldt. The person in question contacted Mayor Rob Muench, who then confirmed with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
$1.6 million The city’s largest project in 2010 will see $1.6 million spent replacing water lines and repaving sections of 16th Street. “This is a large project for our department,” said Peter Bergquist, Humboldt’s public works and utilities director. “The difference from previous years to this year is we realize that with this particular road and how busy it is. We want to replace the water main, the base and the road structure in the same year.” Water mains will be replaced and upsized from south of Highway 5 to 11th Avenue. Directional drilling will occur under Highway 5 to connect the water mains and create a looped system to the south side. This is expected to cost $714,700.