The official opposition is calling on the SaskParty government to create a “real plan” when it comes to addressing the latest wave of COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant. NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Health Critic Vicki Mowat are asking for Premier Scott Moe to shelve his “political fifth wave response” for one that’s guided by science to save the province’s health system. Mowat says “The premier told Saskatchewan people he regretted not acting sooner in the fourth wave. So why now, with the benefit of hindsight and foresight, is he again choosing to gamble with a potential health system collapse?” This comes as the province reported nine deaths on Friday. The number of people in hospital as of Friday is at 215 and 23 are in the ICU. Meili says “Saskatchewan people deserve leadership that prioritizes health over politics.”

This comes as hospitalizations have grown, shortages within critical staff and leaked internal modelling indicating the risk to the health system.