NDP leader says premier needs to get a handle on rising Omicron numbers

NDP Leader Ryan Meili is concerned Premier Scott Moe is downplaying another COVID-19 wave.

The province released the latest case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths Tuesday after a four-day Christmas holiday hiatus. The figures showed another 896 new infections, a total of 80 people in hospital and an additional two deaths due to the virus.

Meili said while hospital numbers are down right now — they’re at their lowest level since Aug. 17 — they’re going to shoot right back up again soon in a few weeks.

“It is absolutely essential that Scott Moe step up … and tell us what the plan is,” Meili said Tuesday during a Zoom conference call with reporters. “What are we going to do next to get Omicron under control?”

The province’s COVID update Tuesday showed a total of 824 cases of the latest variant had been detected in Saskatchewan, up 676 cases from Thursday’s update.

Every zone in the province except the far north-central region had reported at least one case of Omicron. The Saskatoon zone (39.8 per cent) and Regina region (27.3 per cent) had the highest totals.

Meili said it was strange that he was the first one talking about the sharp increase in case numbers.

“The people who have the information and the power to change things are taking a couple more days of holiday before they dust off any type of plan to address Omicron. And frankly, it is irresponsible and disrespectful to the people of Saskatchewan,” Meili added.

Saskatchewan opted not to make any changes to its public health measures before Christmas, with Moe saying in a video on Twitter that while case numbers were going to rise, changes wouldn’t be required if severe outcomes were held in check.

“If serious cases and hospitalizations remain low and manageable, we do not want to go back to shutting down activities, restricting businesses in our communities and taking away your personal freedoms,” he said.

However, other provinces have implemented significant restrictions in recent days to combat the rising number of Omicron cases.

Meili said that gathering limits should already have been in place in Saskatchewan, and that Moe knew what was coming.

“It’s time for him to step up and lead with a real Omicron plan,” Meili said. “As the case numbers rise, what are the next steps? (Moe should not be continuing to) wait until it’s too late, and bring out whatever measures he does as a surprise.”

On Tuesday, the Premier’s Office announced Moe and Health Minister Paul Merriman are to hold a news conference on Thursday at the Legislature to address testing and isolation requirements. They’re also expected to talk about the latest COVID-19 case numbers.