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
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.