Mayor Sandra Masters is urging citizens of Regina to take an immediate stand in reducing the spread of COVID-19 within the city.
As numbers continue to grow in the provincial capital with the presence of variants of concern increasing, Masters asked residents to stay to their household and limit their outings in order to reduce transmission.
She also mentioned the provincial government is keeping a very close eye on the city regarding further restrictions specific to the area if numbers do not go down.
“[The government] did reach out on Friday to the City of Regina and put us on stand-by notice as it relates to the variant,” said Masters. “Pretty much every eight hours they are looking at the numbers that are coming in and the reports from testing. We are essentially on notice.”
Regina Mayor Sandra Masters speaking today on the rising COVID-19 numbers in Regina and the VOC in the city. “We have to take an immediate stand.”#Regina #YQR pic.twitter.com/ae9JqdMySp
— Moises Canales (@MoisesCanalesJr) March 16, 2021
During Tuesday’s media event with the mayor, Masters pointed to 75 to 90 per cent of new cases in the last week in Regina testing positive for the UK variant.
Masters said data from the government indicates the spread is continuing to happen at public gatherings, household gatherings and at workplaces. She continued by saying she’s not looking for a lockdown at this time, but if the government decides to announce further restrictions for the city, she imagines they will be geared towards the spots where transmission is happening most.
“Understanding where the transmissions are occurring is going to be a part of the measures that would be undertaken,” explained Masters.
When asked what the city can do in terms of implementing its own measures, she stated that it comes down to jurisdictional authority and enforcement. Masters said with the authority and enforcement coming from the provincial side, which is where the emergency order comes from, all the city can do is give recommendations.
Masters added that executive committee will be discussing this matter during Wednesday morning’s meeting.
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