Sask. experience shows COVID-19 restrictions work, expert says
A public health expert says Saskatchewan's own experience shows how public health restrictions can halt the spread of COVID-19.
"It's well known that if you can restrict exposure of your population to a particular disease like COVID, you'll see fewer cases," said Michael Szafron, associate professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe claimed this week that Quebec's COVID-19 measures have failed to reduce COVID-19 rates in Quebec, and so his government will not introduce more restrictions.
"Saskatchewan's rate of COVID-19 related deaths in January is the lowest of any province and 90 per cent below the national rate of 4.8 per 100,000 population. It is worth noting that Quebec, with the most severe lockdown measures in Canada, has the highest COVID-19 fatality rate in Canada in January and one of the highest current rates in the world," he said in a news release.
He also said his government "sees no clear evidence that lockdown measures have reduced hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths in other provinces."
However, Szafron said that while a causal relationship can't be drawn between the Omicron restrictions Quebec introduced on New Year's Eve and the decline in cases seen a few days later, they are definitely related.
Without being able to control all variables it's difficult to get conclusive evidence - but in Saskatchewan, there has been a high correlation between public health measures and decreases in case counts, he said.
"If it happened, once, you know, then maybe it was random, right? If it happened after two times, well, it could be random. Three times, the chance of it being random and not connected, much less. Four times, getting an even lower degree of probability. And, of course, we haven't hit our peak yet in Saskatchewan. And this time, no new measures have been put in place."
Instead, Saskatchewan will rely on the efficacy of vaccinations, people being good citizens, and current masking and proof of vaccination orders to bring the case count down, he said.
"We're going to allow COVID to spread with very little impedance."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.