Here are highlights of Tuesday’s COVID-19 update featuring Premier Scott Moe and chief medical health officer Dr.Saqib Shahab.
While overall case numbers have continued to go down week after week, it was obvious at the news conference that there were concerns about the increase in cases variants of concern in Regina. Over 200 cases in Regina over the last few weeks have been identified as variants, in particular the B.1.1.7 variant from the UK.
As a result, Moe said the current public health orders set to expire on March 19 have been extended to April 5. In addition, while places of worship are set to see expanded capacity to 150 people or 30 percent, whichever is less, this will not take effect in Regina which will remain with the current capacity.
Due to higher numbers of cases in Regina, there will be additional vaccine doses directed to Regina in the days ahead. Regina residents are asked to be vigilant, with those over 50 asked not to expand their bubbles and those with symptoms urged to get tested and stay at home.
Dr. Shahab noted the vaccine rollout was coming along very well, and overall case numbers were "still trending down", he said. The average case numbers were 11.3 per 100,000, and the active case rate was 112, and the test positive rate is 5.6.
Given what was happening in other parts of Canada, what they were seeing in Regina was what they expected to see, he said. But it was always concerning, and “when you actually see it it is also surprising”, Dr. Shahab said.
He said it is “the opposite” of what they were seeing elsewhere in the province. Average case numbers there were going up, now at 21 per 100,000, the active case count is high, and the test-positive rate was 9.1. The bulk of new cases are variants of concern.
They are also seeing the impacts of more transmissibility from the variants. Dr. Shahab put out some examples: at restaurants, where in the past three out of 10 staff might get exposed, now with the variant it was 10 out of 10. With a daycare where three out of 20 are exposed, now it’s 10 out of 20.
“All of us need to be a bit more cautious, especially in Regina,” said Dr. Shahab. “And especially if you’re 50 and older.”
The vaccination campaign continues to roll along. It was noted 50 percent of residents over the age of 80 had received their first shot, and the age range has been expanded so everyone age 70 and older and everyone 50 and over in the far North could book their shots.
The province also opened their drive thru clinics in Regina and there were long lineups, which Moe said was good in that it “represents tremendous interest in Saskatchewan residents in getting vaccinated.” Yesterday over 1,700 were delivered in the drive thru clinic alone and over 4,000 throughout the province.
By Friday, Moe said they expected to do over 8,000 shots throughout the province. He adds they will open up more appointments to more age groups as quickly as they receive vaccines.
Moe acknowledged that he had been informed a couple of hours before that Moderna shipments for next week in Canada would be cut by 70 percent. But Moderna says they will deliver the remaining 70 percent the following week.
That will mean a shortfall of 23,000 doses next week. Moe said their vaccine delivery team will make every effort to keep changes to existing appointments to a minimum.
