Province marks fourth day of new virus cases in single digits

REGINA Saskatchewan reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the fourth straight day of single digit numbers.

Three of the new cases were reported in the south central zone, while one was in the Saskatoon area. Meanwhile, nine people recovered from COVID -19, bringing the number of active cases provincewide to 149.

Of those cases, 99 are connected to “communal living settings,” a term the province has used to refer to Hutterite colonies.

Five people were in hospital as of Thursday, according to a news release. That includes four in intensive care units in Saskatoon.

The province reported a total of 1,443 tests performed in Saskatchewan for Wednesday. The news release stated that the Saskatchewan Health Authority continues to work toward increasing its capacity still further. Premier Scott Moe has set a target for capacity of 4,000 tests per day by the end of the month.

The provincial government did not hold a news conference on Thursday regarding COVID-19, but the Opposition NDP used its virtual news conference to once again attack the government’s back-to-school planning.

NDP education critic Carla Beck said Moe is playing politics with public health.

“This is being treated, I’m afraid, as a wedge issue and a political issue by the premier once again, what he needs to do is take this seriously,” she said. “This is a public health issue.”

She said the medical evidence is clear action is needed to address class sizes.

She pointed to examples of divisions that have numerous classes with more than 28 students in classrooms, and some with more than 40.

Though the province has provided $40 million from a contingency fund to support back-to-school planning, including $20 million directly available to divisions, Beck said that won’t make a dent in class sizes.

Beck said school divisions would usually start hiring in May, and won’t be able to “turn on a dime.” Still, she was hesitant to call for a further delay in the back-to-school date beyond the Sept. 8 date the premier has set.

“I would be loath to upend things again, but I would also be loath to be sending students back into crowded conditions, teachers and staff back into crowded conditions, without meaningfully addressing class size,” she said.

Beck would also not give a number for how much more money she believes is required to support a suitable back-to-school plan with lower class sizes.