'We have been abandoned': Sask. doctor slams Moe's Quebec comparison
The Omicron COVID-19 variant has been spreading rapidly but Saskatchewan hospitals have not yet felt its full effects.
Over the past two weeks, cases in hospital and intensive care have nearly doubled, with the province reporting 1,000 cases nearly every day.
Cory Neudorf, interim senior medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, says those numbers will keep climbing.
“We haven't seen the impact of this 1,000 plus cases a day on the system,” said Neudorf.
“Hospitalizations tend to lag cases by about two weeks or so and then ICU admissions lag cases by another week or two.”
Neudorf says the province could eventually lean on other provinces for help like it did during the Delta wave.
“It does seem that way. There is some inevitability to that increasing pressure that's going to come.”
According to Neudorf, Omicron is less severe than the Delta variant but spreads more rapidly. From the information, he has been provided it attacks people's nose and throat and the first part of the bronchus. It's less likely than Delta to cause pneumonia.
Neudorf says health experts are still learning more about Omicron and some people who contract it could have a different experience. He notes that the lower down the virus goes in a person's system, the worse it is for their body. It hits the unvaccinated harder.
Neudorf says the province should consider implementing gathering size limits or cancelling large events.
In a press release, Premier Scott Moe said new restrictions won’t be implemented.
"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."
Infectious disease physician Dr. Alexander Wong says this isn't an accurate comparison.
"We're just a few weeks behind where they are — of course we're not as bad as they are. We're not in the same place in the Omicron wave as they are," he said.
In the release, Moe said his government "sees no clear evidence that lockdown measures have reduced hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths in other provinces."
"As a health care provider and as a frontline health care provider, and speaking for many of my colleagues, it is exhausting and completely disappointing to feel that we have been abandoned this way by our elected officials," said Wong.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Some customers steaming after McDonald's ends free hot drink sticker program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Party's over: Coyotes play final game as Arizona franchise before move to Salt Lake City
Mullett Arena buzzed like few times in the two years since the Arizona Coyotes moved in, the fans amped for one last desert hurrah.