No further COVID-19 restrictions expected to be implemented in Sask.: Moe
Further measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 are not expected to be implemented in Saskatchewan.
During a press conference Monday, Premier Scott Moe said Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 death and hospitalization rates do not warrant additional measures.
“We are not going to impose additional restrictions that cause significant harm for no significant benefit,” Moe said.
Moe initially said further gathering restrictions could be coming to the province, in a social media video in December. Since then, he said a “better understanding” of the Omicron variant led to the government’s decision to stand pat with the current measures, including indoor masking and proof of vaccination.
As of Sunday, Saskatchewan had 252 patients in hospital related to COVID-19.
Of the 226 inpatient hospitalizations, 92 are a COVID-19-related illness, 98 are incidental COVID infections and 36 have not been determined. Of the patients in ICU, 19 are COVID-19-related illness, four are for incidental COVID infections and one is undetermined.
Two residents are in the PICU/NICU; one for a COVID-19-related illness and the other for an incidental infection.
The premier compared Saskatchewan’s current COVID-19 situation to Quebec – which has imposed much stricter public health measures – stating that those measures are not curtailing the spread of Omicron.
“The evidence is right here in Saskatchewan as we manage through this Omicron wave, with very little in the way of restrictions on people’s lives, and we have lower rates of hospitalizations, lower rates of ICU admissions and lower rates, thankfully, of fatalities through the month of January, than many other provinces with much more severe restrictions,” Moe said.
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili suggested other provinces are faring worse during the Omicron wave because they acted too late.
“We had an opportunity to get ahead of this. Now Scott Moe, is using the fact that things got so bad by acting too late in other provinces to excuse not acting at all," he said.
For weeks, Meili said he has been calling on the government to impose measures that would reduce large gatherings, expand proof of vaccination requirements and support school safety.
“They needed to act well over a month ago now,” Meili said, during a press conference Monday.
“We are the only province with zero public health measures in place. We’re the only province without any real measures to keep kids safe in schools.”
Moe said the province will have to learn to live with COVID-19, without relying on further measures.
“It’s going to remain an on going concern for all of us,” Moe said. “We do this without locking down, without taking away people’s freedoms, and without disrupting everyone’s life.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.