Sask. premier hints at lifting restrictions as COVID-19 cases begin to crest
Saskatchewan’s premier is hinting some COVID-19 restrictions could soon be lifted, saying current measures may have run their course.
Scott Moe made the comments while speaking to radio host John Gormley on 980 CJME Wednesday morning.
“In the next number of days, you’ll see some further communication around the existing public health orders or the existing restrictions we have in place and, in particular, those that are impacting our youth,” Moe said on the radio.
Specifically, the premier said officials would look at ending the close contact isolation requirements that keep students out of extra-curricular activities, adding the proof of vaccination requirement has also likely run its course.
“The goal is to remove all of these restrictions when we are able,” Moe said.
“It’s time for us, as a government, to manage COVID as we move forward, and it’s time for us, as a society, to understand that we are going to be living with COVID for some period of time,” Moe said.
Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said proof of vaccination requirements worked well during the Delta wave, but now things are more “complex,” partly because a double dose of vaccine is not as effective against the Omicron variant.
“The data is clear that getting boosted is critical to further reduce your risk of severe outcomes, which is hospitalization,” Dr. Shahab said.
Shahab said jurisdictions across the country are at a point where they must decide to either update proof of vaccination requirements to include booster doses, or remove the requirements altogether if the Omicron surge dissipates. He said the decision is ultimately up to the government and how officials choose to navigate through the current surge.
“We have to change our policies and orders to adjust for changing realities,” said Shahab, who pointed to the recent reduction of the self-isolation period as an example of adjusting to the times.
“What we plan for two months from now certainly needs to be discussed.”
While doctors say a booster dose offers the best protection against Omicron, Dr. Satchan Takaya said two doses still minimize the impacts. For that reason, she said proof of vaccination plays an important role in controlling a surge in hospitalizations.
“We know that those people that progress to severe disease are those that are not vaccinated yet, Dr. Takaya said.
“Proof of vaccination still has a lot of value as long as the vaccine continues to work for the variants that we are facing and it continues to work right now.”
Instead of removing the vaccine requirements, epidemiologist Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine said the government should be expanding its definition of fully vaccinated to include booster doses.
While vaccination requirements are a temporary policy, Muhajarine said they should not be lifted until at least 85 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated. As of Wednesday, 79 per cent of those five years and older had received their second dose.
“Lifting restrictions should not be driven by a calendar date,” Muhajarine said.
“I don’t think we are anywhere near putting Omicron behind us yet.”
The current public health order is set to expire at the end of February.
Muhajarine said the government should outline the metrics it is using to determine when restrictions will be removed. He suggests measures should remain in place until case numbers consistently drop over a two-week period, hospitalizations decrease and hospital capacity is sustainable.
“Musings from the premier about lifting restrictions are a grave concern,” Muhajarine said.
According to Dr. Shahab, test positivity shows case numbers are cresting and could peak later this week.
In the next two to four weeks, we should start to see case numbers decline. However, hospitalizations will continue to rise in that time period.
In the short term, Dr. Shahab said we need to “stay the course,” which includes limiting non-essential contacts.
“Even though we’re cresting and starting to come down, if we relax everything right away we will just rebound and that would not be good at all,” Shahab said.covid restruIn the long term, as we move forward, Dr. Shahab said Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions will have to find the best way to navigate out of the pandemic.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
For years she thought her son had died of an overdose. The police video changed all that
Austin Hunter Turner died in 2017, on a night that his mother has rewound and replayed again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.