Sask. top doc signals he has recommended additional COVID-19 measures to provincial government
During a news conference on Tuesday, Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab appeared to give his clearest indication yet that he has recommended additional COVID-19 measures to the government.
Since implementing a province-wide mask mandate in September and requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test result in some settings as of Oct. 1, no further preventive measures have been introduced.
In an Oct. 21 letter to Health Minister Paul Merriman, 21 medical health officers working in the province called for measures including a 28-day limit on private gathering sizes similar to what was in place during the early stages of Saskatchewan's reopening plan "with some modifications for the fully immunized population."
During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Shahab said the proposed steps outlined in the letter are "closely aligned with many recommendations" he's made to the government.
"Certainly those are all important steps that we should consider," Shahab said.
The letter also asks that proof of vaccination of rules be expanded and negative test results should no longer be accepted as a substitute in some locations.
While he has encouraged people in the province to limit their social circles, Shahab has not publicly disclosed any of his specific recommendations to the Saskatchewan government.
Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) modelling data shows without temporary gathering limits, COVID-19 related ICU admissions could soar later this year, eclipsing the current levels which have resulted in patients being transferred out of province for care.
Earlier this week, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he wasn't open to introducing additional public health measures.
"We don't think it's right to impose those sweeping orders or sweeping restrictions on all people when the vast majority of people in this province kind of went out and done the right thing and they have received their vaccine," Moe said.
Moe also cited the recent decline in newly reported coronavirus cases.
On Tuesday an SHA official told CTV News that a simultaneous decline in testing may mean new COVID-19 cases are underreported.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.