Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 numbers are going down everywhere except for Regina where variants of concern and new cases are still problematic.
Of the 156 new infections announced Tuesday, 101 are in Regina meaning 535 of the 1,292 active cases in the province, or 41-and-a-half percent come from the Regina region.
During the province’s weekly Tuesday update, Premier Scott Moe was asked why the government doesn’t do more in Regina to bring in tougher health measures instead of asking people to remain diligent. He countered by saying that is already happening.
“We do have significant measures, not just in Regina but across the province.” Moe said. “We’re not moving forward with relaxing those measures especially when it comes to large gatherings and worship services in Regina so we do have measures in place.”
Moe is referring to an announcement made Tuesday about gatherings at worship services. While worship services throughout the province will be able to expand to 30 per cent of capacity or 150 people, whichever is the lesser number starting March 19, places of worship in Regina and adjacent communities will remain at the current capacity level until April 5 when it will be reviewed.
The adjacent communities include: Belle Plaine, Pense, Grand Coulee, Lumsden Beach, Regina Beach, Craven, Lumsden, Edenwold, Pilot Butte, White City, Balgonie, Kronau, Davin, Gray and Riceton.
While Moe is asking people to remain diligent especially in Regina and adhere to the public health measures currently in place, Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab does say he will be reviewing the numbers in a week to see where we are at and whether or not a lockdown is needed. He says that would be the last resort.
The information put forth predictably drew the ire of the opposition NDP.
In a release, the NDP says we are now seeing the consequences of Moe’s failures are now being seen and that the government has done nothing but the bare minimum while missing opportunities to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and not taking responsibility for the way his government has handled this.
