Premier Scott Moe addressed the province on Wednesday, April 22 鈥� praising the residents of Saskatchewan for their efforts in flattening the COVID-19 curve.
鈥淭he last few weeks have been difficult for everyone,鈥� said Moe. 鈥淭his is not how things are supposed to be. People are meant to be together. It鈥檚 against our very nature to stay apart,鈥� he added.
Moe said by following the guidelines laid out by the provincial government, the people of Saskatchewan not only protected themselves, but their families, neighbours and the province. 鈥淭onight, I can tell you without any doubt, it is working,鈥� said Moe. 鈥淲e have flattened the curve.鈥�
Moe also touched on the five-phase plan to reopen Saskatchewan鈥檚 economy and get people back to work. He believed the province can begin to reopen if the next steps are taken with caution. 鈥淥ur government takes this decision extremely seriously, we know there are risks on both sides,鈥� Moe stated.
鈥淚f we move too slowly, we risk permanent damage to the livelihoods of thousands of Saskatchewan people. Businesses that never reopen and jobs that never come back,鈥� he added.
Moe said the plan set to be released on Thursday will outline a gradual and methodical approach to reopen businesses and public services that have been closed because of the pandemic. 鈥淚t is a plan developed in close consultation with Saskatchewan鈥檚 Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab,鈥� said Moe.
鈥淚t is a plan that will be carried out in five phases and as we proceed with each phase, we will carefully monitor COVID-19 case numbers and adjust the plan as required,鈥� he explained further.
Moe said as businesses are allowed to reopen and employees return to work, they will have to follow stringent physical distancing and cleaning procedures like the grocery stores and other businesses that have remained open.
Moe said in Saskatchewan the largest and most dangerous outbreaks have been related to travel, large gatherings and inside seniors鈥� care homes. He added those restrictions will remain in place for the time being.
鈥淲e also know that aggressive testing and contact tracing are key to controlling the spread of COVID-19,鈥� said Moe. 鈥淐anada has one of the highest testing rates in the world and Saskatchewan has one of the highest testing rates in Canada; that will continue,鈥� the premier maintained.
Moe also said the province is continuing to look at ways to increase testing and contact tracing going forward. 鈥淭his is how we will continue to keep our case numbers low and manageable as we proceed with caution through the reopening process.鈥�
Moe said he and Dr. Shahab will outline which businesses and services will be included in each phase of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, along with dates in May when the first couple of phases will begin.
鈥淟et me be clear, this will be a gradual, methodical and cautious process. It鈥檚 not like flipping on a light switch,鈥� said Moe.
To date, Saskatchewan has had 326 cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, 61 are considered active along with five people in hospital and four deaths.
Moe said on a per capita basis, COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan are about 70 per cent below the Canadian average. He added the number of serious outcomes, including hospitalizations and deaths, is more than 90 per cent below the national average.
