Revealing specific locations of COVID-19 cases will be up to Shahab, Moe says

When the Government of Saskatchewan gave its latest update on the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday, it disclosed the specific rural municipalities where new cases were found.

Premier Scott Moe said that was done as a warning to residents that the virus is nearby.

“This virus has spread into many areas in rural Saskatchewan and this is just short, I think, of issuing a public service announcement for any one or a number of those areas, but to just inform people that it most certainly is in rural communities quite likely,” Moe told Gormley on Tuesday.

“(It) could even be in a community near you or the community you travel to.”

The premier said while the case numbers are going to be different, what cannot change is people’s behaviour, at least not until a vaccine is found.

In the future, Moe said it will be up to the chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, to decide whether to give specific details about new infections.

“When there is a need for people to be acutely aware that it may be in or near to them or if things are changing a little bit, Dr. Shahab is going to let them know,” Moe said.

Regarding testing, allowing anybody to access one has been the goal. The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced Monday anyone in the province can get a COVID-19 test, even if they don’t have symptoms.

While the province has the capacity to conduct up to 2,000 tests per day, testing hasn’t been close to that rate because of what Moe called “manageable” case numbers.

“This is a time for us to actually start pushing on that capacity so that if we should need it … we would have access to that capacity if needed,” he said.

Also on the show, Moe said an announcement is coming on allowing garage sales. There has apparently been a demand to see them resume under the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, including from the premier’s mother.

“The lobbying continues and I would say this: In the next number of days, either late this week or for sure by early next week, your wife, my mother and many others will be very pleased,” Moe said.