It’s not a mandatory mask mandate, but the SaskParty government has updated its public health orders to require those who catch COVID-19 to now isolate for 10 days. Once an individual is notified of their positive test result, they’ll be required to stay home for 10 days. Close contacts of a positive case who aren’t vaccinated will be asked to isolate as well. Those who have received their shots won’t be required to isolate, although they will be asked to self-monitor and seek testing if any symptoms of the virus arise.
The province is also going to be rolling back some non-emergency services in the health care sector to help deal with the fourth wave of the pandemic. Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO, Scott Livingstone says it won’t be a full shut down like that of the one in April of last year. He adds there will be cases of 100 per cent slow downs in some regions when it comes to things like elective surgery. Livingstone says details of the reductions in non-critical services will be announced in the coming days. The SHA CEO did note that some areas of the province may be able to keep some medical services running as high as 90 to 95 per cent.
There are also plans to expand the province’s contact tracing workforce. The province says they’re looking to recruit those in the private sector to help conduct contact tracing. Livingstone said at one point, the province had 1000 people assigned to contact tracing, that number dropped to 300 when cases counts in Saskatchewan were lower. The plan is to get back to the 1000 people assigned to contact tracing and perhaps even more.
During a news conference in Saskatoon Friday, Premier Scott Moe did touch on booster shots saying that the plan is to make boosters available to the senior population come October. The broader vaccinated public will then be able to get their booster shot later in the winter.
The province’s proof of vaccination is in its final stages of development and will be launched during the week of September 20th. Residents registered for eHealth’s My Sask Health Record will be able to download their vaccination record along with a QR code. Organizations and businesses requiring proof of vaccination will be able to download a separate app to scan the QR codes. More information will be released prior to the launch.
