Here's what you need to know about the new COVID-19 drug available in Sask.
The first antiviral COVID-19 drug treatment approved in Canada is now available in Saskatchewan.
Eligible residents 18 and over in the province now have access to Paxlovid, an oral prescription medication used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms, the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) said in a news conference Wednesday morning.
Paxlovid is only being given to eligible patients through HealthLine 811 referrals. The province is asking those who feel they are eligible to not visit family physicians or a pharmacy to request the medication.
The province also said requests for Paxlovid is not expected to add to wait times in regards to HealthLine 811.
According to the province, wait times for the number are down and currently sitting around one hour for those with COVID-19 concerns.
“I’m very pleased to say that we have made progress in reducing those wait times,” Marlo Pritchard, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency president, said.
“At it’s peak, HealthLine 811 had a 24 hour wait time and a list of over 2,000 people waiting for a call back, as of January 25, the average wait time is down to around one hour for COVID related calls.”
To address the increased need HealthLine 811 added 60 administrative staff to address general information calls and is in the process of adding more registered nurses from supplemental workflows.
Pritchard also wants residents to know that many questions being screened on HealthLine 811 can also be answered online.
Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab reiterated Wednesday that Paxlovid is not meant to be a replacement for vaccination.
The treatment is meant for those who have already tested positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms.
The province said the pill is not meant for those with symptoms that would signal an emergency, such as shortness of breath. It is also not meant to be taken as a preventative measure.
The pill is taken twice per day for five days and stops the virus from multiplying in a person’s body.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.