With 23 of 28 new cases of COVID19 in Saskatchewan this week  coming from the far north, the province is taking steps to try and limit spread of the virus in the area.

Following consultation with the Mayor of La Loche and other northern leaders, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab is issuing  a public health order restricting all non-critical travel into northern Saskatchewan, specifically the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.

Photo: Government of Saskatchewan

Shahab is also issuing a strong recommendation against non-essential travel between communities within northern Saskatchewan.

“Even though Saskatchewan has successfully reduced the spread of COVID-19, unfortunately we can expect to experience isolated outbreaks,” Moe said. “Our health system and our government is prepared to take immediate action to respond to these outbreaks and that’s what we are doing today in the north.”

Checkpoints will be set up on all highways leading into and out of northern Saskatchewan, and officials say the public health order does provide legal authority to enforce travel restrictions.

In response to the announcement, NDP Leader Ryan Meili said it’s now urgent for the Premier to work more closely with northern leaders to ensure clear protocols and protections for stopping the spread of COVID-19, and step up and provide direct financial assistance for northern communities, as the Opposition has been calling for.

“We have repeatedly called on the province to do more to address the unique challenges that make northern communities particularly vulnerable to COVID-19,” said Meili. “Their failure to act sooner has cost us valuable time. With COVID-19 now spreading in northern communities, it’s essential the province stops reacting and starts acting to get ahead of this virus.”

This is the fifth time this month the NDP has requested more be done to help those in the northern part of the province.