The Weyburn General Hospital is now closed to all but COVID-19 patients.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has decided to shift hospital care to COVID-19 patients on inpatient wards while moving other patients to hospitals in the surrounding area such as Estevan.

Emergency services will still be available in Weyburn and will still be accessible to those in need.

It’s not known if this COVID-19 focused care is related to the outbreak declared at the hospital on Dec. 29. Seventeen of those cases remain active.

That is the second COVID-19 outbreak at a health care facility in Weyburn, as 27 residents and staff members of the Weyburn Special Care Home have also tested positive. Only nine of those cases remain active.