Saskatchewan Health Authority warns of risks in loosening COVID-19 rules

REGINA — A recent presentation to Saskatchewan doctors says the province’s public health measures have so far failed to drive down the spread of COVID-19 below targets that officials would like to see.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority shared the update on Thursday as part of weekly virtual town halls with physicians.

A senior medical health officer said the goal is to get the province’s COVID-19 test positivity below five per cent.

Dr. Julie Kryzanowski said for the last few weeks that number has hovered between six and eight per cent, and is different across the province.

Health Minister Paul Merriman told CBC Saskatchewan that test positivity was around 5.6 per cent, down from about 12 per cent in January.

Kryzanowski said figures including the case rate and how many infections one positive case leads to were still higher last week than the health authority’s goals.

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press