The president of the Saskatchewan Medical Association says it is too soon to loosen or remove public health measures, like proof of vaccination and negative tests. Dr. Eben Strydom says physicians are extremely disappointed with the Premier’s recent remarks on vaccines, and the SMA takes issue with comments which cast doubt on the effectiveness of vaccines.

He suggests Scott Moe continues to ignore the advice of medical experts at a time when COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached record levels. Dr. Strydom doesn’t believe the Premier’s actions show any empathy for the thousands of health care workers who are bearing the weight of these high volumes of patients, and the impact it has on other health services.

The SMA urges the government to continue the proof of vaccination and negative test requirements until there are steady declines in cases and wastewater transmission data, and when hospitalizations fall into the low double digits, and ICUs have fewer than ten COVID patients. The President of the SMA implores the government to stay the course to mitigate the impact of the highly contagious Omicron variant.