Preliminary approval has been given for a Regina centre to open an overdose prevention site.

The executive director of the Nēwo Yōtina Friendship Centre says approval came from the provincial government this week with the hope being everything can be up and running in two weeks.

Michael Parker says the site will operate out of the Centre on 11th Avenue in downtown Regina and will be able to accomodate two people at a time because of social distancing with staff having naloxone kits on hand should they be needed.  Sterile needles, oxygen and an AED machine will also be on-site.

Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and will not accommodate minors or first-time users.

Parker says they are looking to both the public and government for financial support but will use their own funding for now to operate the site.

On Thursday. the Saskatchewan’s Coroner’s Service said four people have died of suspected drug overdoses in Regina since February 14 with 75 people across the province having died as a result of a drug overdose.