Saskatchewan is limiting who is eligible for PCR COVID-19 tests. Starting on Monday, all PCR tests will have to be booked in advance through the 811 HealthLine and will only be reserved for those deemed high-risk.

• Hospitalized patients, those admitted or transferred between acute, long-term care or personal care homes
• High risk populations as ordered by the medical health officer: residents in long-term care, personal care homes and congregate living facilities; and international or travellers from areas of concern
• Priority symptomatic persons: health care workers or essential workers who have a negative rapid antigen test but remain symptomatic; those with chronic illness (diabetes, history of cancer, cardiac failure, etc.)
• Symptomatic people living or working in First Nation and Métis communities
• Surgical patients with symptoms or a positive rapid antigen test if scheduled or expecting to receive surgery within the next 90 days
• Pregnant patients who are symptomatic and more than 30 weeks gestation
• Symptomatic immunocompromised individuals including all transplant donors and recipients prior to and post-transplant; all oncology patients prior to, receiving or post chemotherapy
• Newborns born to COVID-19-positive parents, prior to discharge

Residents who need tests for travelling or in lieu of proof of vaccination will have to purchase them from a private service provider.

The province is also going be scrapping its COVID-19 dashboard. This means next week, there will no-longer be daily reports and instead information will be compiled into a weekly report on Thursdays.

The new weekly information package will include PCR confirmed cases, deaths, tests and vaccination stats.

Provincial health officials said the changes more align with how Saskatchewan goes about tracking other illnesses such as influenza. Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s chief medical health officer says the shift comes as vaccines and booster doses are available along with at-home rapid test kits.

The province will continue to report outbreaks at long-term care homes, hospitals, homeless shelters and correctional centres. Outbreaks associated with large public gatherings, places of worship and schools will no-longer be investigated.

Both proof of vaccination and mandatory masking remain in place, although Premier Scott Moe posted a video on his Twitter account late Wednesday night saying that the last of the province’s restrictions will be lifted “very soon”.

[pt 2/2] pic.twitter.com/b41GeBwrz6

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) February 3, 2022