With cancellation of daily Sask. COVID-19 summary, people will have to 'go looking' for information: nurses' union
A nurses' union representative says the Government of Saskatchewan's decision to end the practice of distilling and releasing COVID-19 data on a daily basis could create barriers for a public looking to stay informed about the risk posed by the coronavirus.
On Thursday, the province announced while it would continue to update its online COVID-19 "dashboard," it will no longer post its daily summary of case counts and other information, instead moving to a weekly model for the summaries. The switch is planned for Aug. 3.
"It'll still be on that dashboard if you go looking for it. But it's not just going to be put out there so that people are aware of it and I think that would give us a better picture really of what's going on," Saskatchewan Union of Nurses vice-president Denise Dick told CTV News.
Dick said keeping information about COVID-19 flowing in Saskatchewan is especially critical right now due to the potential threat posed by the Delta variant.
"I would just wish it would continue because it's been a good reference for us to be able to see those numbers without having to go looking for them."
When announcing the move, the province did not provide a specific reason for the decision but said COVID-19 is moving from "pandemic to endemic."
Dick said she hopes the province would consider resuming the practice if case numbers begin to climb in Saskatchewan.
"I would hope that they would institute it right away, because I think it's a really important part, so that people know that things are changing and that they need to be more vigilant," Dick said.
"Because we don't know what's going to happen with these variants."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.