Saskatchewan re-institutes masking protocol, adds vaccine passport to control spiralling COVID-19 totals

In response to record high COVID19 totals, and with projections of a healthcare system testing surge in additional cases in the coming days, the Saskatchewan government has taken a series of measures in an attempt to curtail the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of a series of significant public health initiatives to encourage the uptake of vaccines, Saskatchewan residents are facing a mandatory masking requirement, and the province has taken steps toward instituting a proof of vaccine or negative test result which will take effect on October 1.

“The vast majority of Saskatchewan people that have done the right thing. Quite frankly they are tired of those that have chosen not too. And that is what is now driving the fourth wave in this province. And our province is not going to wait for you as we continue to move forward,” Premier Scott Moe said while announcing the tougher measures during a press conference last Thursday.

Effective October 1, Saskatchewan is introducing a provincial requirement for proof of vaccination or negative test for public access to a list which includes indoor dining at restaurants, plus service at nightclubs, bars, taverns and other licensed establishments. It will also be in effect at event and entertainment venues, including conference centres, casinos, movie theatres, concert venues, live-music venues, museums, and indoor facilities hosting ticketed sporting events. The two forms of proof are also required at indoor fitness centres and gyms.

“There will not be mandated vaccinations from the government of Saskatchewan. I’ve been clear with respect to that,” explained Premier Moe. “That being said, I’ve also also said that if you choose not to be vaccinated, how you move around in our communities will become increasingly difficult in the days ahead. And I think that’s what the proof of vaccination, the proof of a negative test policy really starts to weigh in on.”

“Some of those uncomfortable events will be it is on you to procure, pay for, and find a private provider to provide you with that test. You need a healthcare provider to provide it, and the rest of the province through the Saskatchewan Health Authority is not going to be paying for that test.”

However, proof of vaccination will not be required at publicly accessible retail businesses, including grocery stores, fast food restaurants offering takeout and delivery, at places of worship, health care services, professional services, plus personal services.

Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone said COVID projections have warranted the significant steps being taken. Looking at the 10 day growth at the time of the tighter restrictions going into effect, and projecting forward 10 days, the province was looking at a low end estimate of 600 cases a day. That projection was based on no public health actions being taken.

“The difference between this phase of the pandemic, with Delta cases the aggressive nature of and how quickly it’s coming, the curve is going up much faster than it has at any time during the pandemic. Over the last 30 days we’re seeing literally an over 480 per cent increase in cases. 300 per cent increases in hospitalization,” Livingstone said last week.

If there were not more immunized individuals stepping forward quickly, and other controls in place effective as of the announcement, higher projection numbers could rise to as high as 800 to 1000 cases per day and a corresponding jump in hospital admissions and ICU cases.

Over 156 services across the province have been slowed down or in process of being slowed down by the SHA in order to free up highly trained and skilled resources to support inpatient care and ICU. These efforts were enacted to build a capacity of 255 acute care beds and 80 ICU beds for COVID patients across the province.

“We are, as you’ve seen with the case numbers since Friday, and our average day cases going up dramatically, just by looking at what’s happened over the last 10 days, we are actively looking at other major slowdowns to help improve our in patient beds and ICU capacity across the province.”

“These slowdowns will effect every single resident of this province. The SHA, being a provincial organization, we will do load levelling and using all resources available to us to care for both COVID and non COVID patients during this time. But we will be tested as an organization like we have never been tested before in the upcoming weeks.”

“Right now, over the next few weeks, we are concerned with the volume of cases that will come in.”