Worries about coronavirus opens spring session at Sask legislature

Concern about the impact of the coronavirus in Saskatchewan led off debate in the Saskatchewan legislature on Monday.

Opposition leader Ryan Meili sought assurances the province is ready if the COVID-19 virus reaches Saskatchewan.

Besides public health and infection control, Meili said his one concern is in regards to overcrowded and over-stressed emergency rooms.

“That’s a very dangerous situation if you have a new major virus, ” he stated. “We have not seen this government take the question of overcrowded ERs seriously.”

Premier Scott Moe said the province is working with federal officials and the provinces to ensure health care officials are prepared for the virus if it comes to Saskatchewan.

Dr. Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer in Saskatchewan, feels the ministry of health has made efforts to make sure the province is ready.

“We’re ready to detect cases quickly now that the Roy Romanow Provincial Lab is fully equipped to ramp up testing,” explained Dr. Shahab. “If patients require hospital care, we certainly have the capacity at this point to do that.”

Dr. Shahab added that the province only gets a handful of people who have travelled to countries that have been flagged by the Public Health Agency of Canada. He mentioned that the bulk of travellers have been from Ontario and British Columbia with one confirmed case in Quebec.

So far, there are no cases in Saskatchewan.

(With files from Moises Canales)