Moose Jaw on “red-alert” with Sask. public health due to COVID-19 variant concerns

Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said that public health is keeping a close eye on the number of active cases and variants of concern being reported in Moose Jaw, and that the community should be on “redalert” despite no further restriction announcements. Shahab and Premier Scott Moe addressed the rising case numbers during a press conference on March 30, where Moose Jaw residents were advised to be extremely diligent in following current public health orders to slow the spread of variants.

An earlier warning for Moose Jaw was issued by the Saskatchewan Health Authority on March 27, as the region has the highest increase in new cases in the province outside of Regina and Saskatoon in the past few days, with many of those new cases being variants of concern. As of March 30, Moose Jaw reported a total of 95 variant cases, ten of which were included in the daily case numbers shared earlier that day.

“For a population that’s a quarter the size of Regina, [the case numbers] are very concerning,” said Shahab. “I think Moose Jaw is on red-alert and should be watched very closely.”

Both officials confirmed that while the province is not enacting any new public health orders specific to the city just yet, active discussions about further restrictions similar to those in Regina are taking place.

Premier Moe addressed concerns that the province is not being proactive enough in addressing the rising case numbers, stating that while Moose Jaw’s case numbers are a concern, they are not yet alarming enough to constitute a lockdown order.

“Moose Jaw is not at the stage that Regina was at [when the decision to lockdown occurred] at this time,” said Moe.

Moose Jaw mayor Fraser Tolmie issued a press release earlier in the week asking Moose Jaw residents to consider following the restrictions currently in place in Regina of their own volition, which both Moe and Shahab reiterated during the press conference.

Moe asked Moose Jaw residents to “go above and beyond” in following public health orders at this time, to slow the spread of cases in the community without the province’s intervention.

“People in Moose Jaw should really look at the Regina orders and guidelines and try to emulate that,” added Shahab. “But if the concern continues in Moose Jaw, further restrictions will have to be applied.”

Public health is tracking the case numbers in Moose Jaw very closely, said Shahab, and residents are encouraged to practice caution in regards to household contact for the next while.

For more information on COVID-19 in Saskatchewan, visit saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.