Saskatchewan is close enough to its vaccination target it has confirmed all restrictions on event sizes and group gathering sizes will be lifted on July 11..Premier Scott Moe released a two-minute video on Twitter from an empty Mosaic Stadium to make the announcement Sunday..“We’re extremely close to reaching the final target – 70% of everyone over the age of 12 getting their first shot of vaccine. We will hit that target in the next couple of days,” Moe said..“So no more limits on event sizes and on our group gathering sizes. And the province-wide mask order will end.”.Although springtime 2020 also saw case numbers drop, Moe credited vaccinations with lower case numbers..“As our vaccine numbers went up, we saw our case numbers decline and our hospitalizations have also gone down and Saskatchewan has become a much safer place,” the premier said..“If you haven’t done so already, go get your first shot. And when it’s your turn, go get your second shot. Let’s stick it to COVID, let’s fill this stadium, and let’s have a great Saskatchewan summer.”.Replies on Twitter were mixed. Some welcomed the announcement, others feared it was too soon, and others had skepticism about all the government’s actions – including those to come..“How much you wanna bet he’ll reinstate those already [B.S.] restrictions again in the fall because of the made up ‘variants’,” asked Tracy (@ProvoGal01)..“Your messaging says it all ‘Let’s all enjoy a great Saskatchewan summer!’ Yeah right, because come fall, you’ll f___ with the people some more Wake up!”.Heather (@heathersk) responded with caution..“I dearly hope this won’t prove to be too much too fast, with devastating effects. Health and the economy are not separate – and variants are a serious concern. Let us be guided by all of the emerging science.”.But Trent (@Tgreen66Trent) was jubilant..“Good work to you, your team and the people of Sask!! Let’s get back to our lives as they are meant to be lived… July 11th should be celebrated!!”.Others, like Critical Elite Theory (@grumblinghive) urged the public to look back on 15 months of restrictions:.“Thank your government for letting you have the guaranteed rights they took away, for giving you back a now-destroyed economy, for killing your hopes and dreams, for the addictions, suicides and overdoses, and for children they terrified. Remember to thank them.”.A press release from the province included vaccination rates for each age group. Of those 80+, 92% received the first dose and 83% received the second. These percentages were 92 and 78 for those in their 70’s, 86 and 60 for those in their 60’s, 74 and 34 for those in their 50’s, 68 and 16 for those in their 40’s, 58 and eight for those in their 30’s, 53 and seven for those aged 18-29, and 55 and one for those aged 12-17..Anyone who received their first dose on or before May 15 can get their second shot on June 21. Priority access for a second dose will be given for those diagnosed or being treated with cancer or those who have received organ transplants..The release said since May 5 some people who had “contraindication for mRNA vaccines” had been given AstraZeneca for their first dose. It added that Saskatchewan residents could choose between AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer for their second dose..Already, 48,441 Saskatchewan residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 47,135 have recovered. In all there have been 79 inpatient/ICU hospitalizations and 563 deaths. Sixty new cases were reported on Sunday..Saskatchewan is the second province in Canada to announce its upcoming removal of COVID restrictions. Jason Kenney made a similar announcement on Friday, effective July 1..Harding is a Western Standard correspondent based in Saskatchewan
