'We haven't been downplaying this at all': Merriman defends province's handling of COVID-19
Question period Monday was filled with pointed discussions regarding the province’s response to COVID-19.
Even more so from NDP Leader Ryan Meili, who spent his Easter break recovering from the virus.
“It’s wreaking havoc in our health system and in our emergency rooms,” he said. “The worse part of it is Mr. Speaker, the premier knew it would happen.”
According to the latest update from the province, 417 individuals are in hospital with COVID-19 related illnesses.
Minister of Health Paul Merriman defended the province’s ongoing response to the pandemic.
“I think the people of Saskatchewan need to hear very clearly that COVID is in our communities,” he said.
“It is out there, and people are contracting it. But what we are seeing is that the COVID of today is not the COVID that we saw of the fall.”
Merriman rejected calls that current hospital and death rates were due to the government ‘downplaying’ the pandemic.
“We haven’t been downplaying this at all. We’re very much concerned about the people and that they have all the tools they need to manage their COVID,” he explained.
“People have to be vigilant about what they are doing. They have to pick up rapid tests, they have to have them available that if they do contract it or they think they’re symptomatic they can test right away.”
The government says the current COVID variant is not placing the same pressures on hospitals and that many medical procedures are getting done on schedule.
“I can report that Saskatoon is doing 100 per cent of its scheduled surgeries,” said Merriman. “Regina is close to 90 per cent of its scheduled surgeries so we’ve actually increased our surgical capacity in the past few weeks.”
Vicki Mowat of the NDP argued the government is not being transparent with its messaging.
“There is such disparity right now,” she said. “With the government saying that COVID-19 doesn’t exist and on the other side you have occasional recommendations coming from our chief medical health officer.”
She also pointed out the strain felt in the healthcare system due to the pandemic is still being felt.
“When we see COVID-19 hospitalizations being so high, we know it’s an additional pressure on the system,” she explained. “This is not a sustainable system.”
Merriman maintained that personnel shortages were the main factor in the additional strain in healthcare in the province, and that the government has a strategy going forward with this year’s budget.
“Most of the challenges that we have in our healthcare system are human resource related and we have a very good plan to deal with that,” he said.
Going forward, the government plans to announce additional age groups that will be eligible for booster shots sometime this week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.