REGINA - It is confirmed that Saskatchewan Health Authority is returning to routine infection prevention and control protocols, effective today.
That is a change from what was indicated earlier, when it appeared Thursday would be the day the protocol change would be made. However, the province confirmed in a news release the change is effective Tuesday, April 4.
Starting today, according to the province’s news release, masking is no longer required for patients or residents, staff or visitors and will be optional in all SHA facilities including administrative offices, hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. The province states these changes are supported by Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab.
Masks will still be available to those who wish to wear them, and province states personal protective equipment such masks, gowns or gloves, will still be required for staff and visitors during outbreaks or in specific high-risk clinical areas.
As well, physical distancing measures will also end, and there will no longer be restrictions on food sharing and food donations.
These only apply to SHA facilities; privately-run physician's offices, clinics and other non-SHA facilities will set their own policies.
The other major news of the day is that eHealth Saskatchewan is decommissioning the SK Vax Wallet mobile device application. According to the news release from the province it will no longer accept updates as of April 17, and as of April 30 the app will no longer be available in the App Store.
However, COVID-19 vaccination records are still available on peoples’ MySaskHealthRecord accounts and can be printed or saved and viewed on mobile devices. The QR code will still be available on vaccination records through MySaskHealthRecord.
Merriman reaction
In speaking to reporters, Health Minister Paul Merriman explained the rationale behind the decision. He emphasized this came from a recommendation from the Chief Medical Health Officer.
“Dr. Shahab had brought this a little while ago on getting back to pre-COVID, getting back to 2019,” said Merriman. “The decision was made by the SHA that we could implement that prior to Easter so the news release went out, just to make clarification that everybody understood when this was happening and why this was happening.”
The reason for removal prior to Easter, Merriman said, was because family members have time off and might want to visit family in long term care facilities. But Merriman also said they had heard from medical staff that they would like the option to remove masking.
As for case counts of COVID-19, Merriman said “I think we’ve seen it flatten out. We’ve had between 50-60 individuals that have been admitted to our hospital care system across the board with COVID-related symptoms. It hasn’t moved a lot in the last 6-8 weeks.”
He did not express concerns the removal of mask requirements could pose an issue. “We’ve seen lots of mass gatherings,” said Merriman. “There were 12,000 people at the Blades game the other day… that hasn’t had any impact on any of our numbers we’ve seen.”
As for the decision to remove the SK Vax Wallet app, Merriman said “it’s not being utilized, there’s not a demand for that app. It does cost the government money to have that app continuously running.” He did emphasize the vaccine information was still available through MySaskHealthRecord.
In speaking to reporters Opposition Critic Matt Love voiced some skepticism about the decision, particularly on the issue of whether the decision was coming from medical professionals or from politicians.
“I think what would help the public understand is hear directly from Dr. Shahab about this change so we can trust these are being made by health professionals and not by politicians.”
