In Thursday’s provincial COVID-19 update, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the province will make small changes to testing and case management protocols, but will not bring in additional restrictions..Moe confirmed cases are rising across the province, but indicated “hospitalizations and ICU admissions continue to fall” and are at their lowest level since the summer..In the past two weeks, Saskatchewan has seen its seven-day average of new cases increase by four times, however, hospitalizations have declined by 21% and the number of ICU patients — currently 15 — is down 55%..Moe said he anticipates the trend to continue and confirmed there are still no known Omicron cases that have required hospitalization in Saskatchewan..He also advised those now eligible for boosters — all residents 18-years and older — to book their shots..“A booster shot may not prevent you from actually getting COVID, but it should keep you from getting seriously ill,” said Moe..“More than 30% of those eligible residents have already went out and got their booster shot,” said Moe pointing out Saskatchewan has the highest rate of booster uptake nationwide..“So good on Saskatchewan people but we do need it to continue to increase.”.Along with encouraging residents to get vaccinated and book their boosters, Moe also encouraged people to use rapid testing often..Moe confirmed the province has secured 12.6 million rapid test kits with an additional four million set to be delivered in January..Those who test positive are to “assume you have COVID and self-isolate,” said Moe, adding it is no longer necessary for follow-up PCR testing. Although he admitted this could lead to COVID-19 cases not being reported, Moe said the province is changing how it tracks infections..“We’re at a point of time in this pandemic — and this is not specific to Saskatchewan, but many other provinces are changing the metric in which we are looking at — as a key indicator away from the case numbers and daily case rates to our hospitalizations and ICU admissions,” said Moe..The province will also follow clinical guidance announced this week from the US Centers for Disease Control to reduce self-isolation times from 10 days to five days after a positive COVID-19 test..Moe also confirmed the province will not bring in any additional restrictions at this time..“COVID is going to be around and going to be in our communities in one form or another for some time now and if we want to avoid going back to restrictions and lockdowns and limits on individual freedoms that we enjoy, we want to avoid all of that if we are able,” said Moe..Addressing upcoming New Year’s Eve celebrations, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Saqib Shahab encouraged residents to “stick to close family and friends” of up to 10 people from a limit of two or three households..He also suggested people consider virtual gatherings and discouraged travelling to multiple houses or gatherings on New Year’s Eve..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
