One year after COVID-19 took hold in Saskatchewan, Regina City Councillors will once work virtually, as COVID-19 variant numbers skyrocket in the city.

The emergency motion, proposed by Ward 2 Councillor Bob Hawkins, was passed unanimously after numbers showed 65 percent of Saskatchewan’s new COVID-19 cases, and 90 percent of variant cases, are in Regina.

Mayor Sandra Masters says it was a necessary move.

“I think that given that we’re leading the nation in the Covid variant on a per capita basis, would lend itself to council, perhaps, showing some leadership in terms of staying home, and not just coming into contact with each other.”

The move comes a day after Masters stated that “everything was on the table” in terms of the city’s response to the variants. She says the variants are naturally very unpredictable, which makes it more important to be cautious.

“We know it’s being monitored day-to-day, and we have an Emergency Response Team, which is in constant contact with our Deputy Chief Medical Officer here for the City of Regina,” said Masters. “As those case numbers come in, it really is monitoring day-to-day, so if the numbers start to come down again, we’re fine, if they start to go up, more measures, I’m sure, will be undertaken.”

Masters says she is most concerned about people letting their guard down as the temperature continues to rise.

“Spring has sprung, and people are feeling more free, and the reminder is that we are not of the woods, at least for the next several weeks,” said Masters. “We need to practice extra vigilance when it comes to anyone who has contact with anyone 50 years of age or older, you need to be careful and limit your exposure possibilities.”

The mandate takes effect at end of day Wednesday.