Saskatchewan’s Official Opposition is urging the government not to wait to implement Omicron protections.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre released new modelling on Tuesday which forecast that daily cases of COVID’19, hospitalizations and ICU admissions will increase without stronger public health measures, such as gathering size limits.

Currently, in Saskatchewan, 96 cases of Omicron have been detected, a number that is expected to double every five days if nothing is done, according to the modelling.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili says Saskatchewan still has the highest per capita COVID-19 hospital and ICU admissions, and doctors and health workers are still burnt out.

He suggests the choice to do nothing risks further cancellations of surgeries, treatments and therapies, and unlike during the fourth wave, other provinces now struggling with Omicron won’t be in a position to help.

Meili adds that Saskatchewan remains the only province to not implement new public health measures in response to the Omicron variant and is the only province without any capacity limits.