Chief Medical Officer Says COVID - 19 Variants In Moose Jaw - Does Not Rule Out "Progressive Measures" If Things Worsen

By Robert Thomas

COVID - 19 Variants of Concern (VOC) may have impacted Regina with a surge of new cases but that does not leave Moose Jaw and area in a safe immunity bubble as the VOCs are now starting to show up in the city. And if the cases rise too much through community spread further lockdown restrictions could be enacted in Moose Jaw.

During a Thursday afternoon news conference the province’s chief medical officer, Dr Saqib Shahab, said the numbers of VOC COVID - 19 cases in Moose Jaw are increasing.

“We also do recommend while the bulk of the new cases are in Regina are Variants of Concern we are seeing in other parts of the province, especially the southern part of the province, Weyburn and area, Moose Jaw and area there is a an increase in the Variants of Concern,” Dr Shahab said.

In Moose Jaw 87 percent or 37 out of 44 of recent cases have been caused by a variant. In Regina 88 percent or 138 out of 156 recent cases have been caused by a variant.

The VOCs have already had Cornerstone Christian School close and move to a distance (on-line) learning format with the rest of the Prairie South School Division so far resisting to close schools at least until the Easter break which starts March 4th (Good Friday).

Dr Shahab asks people throughout the province to be aware the virus’ VOCs are everywhere and not to relax their precautions.

“This just re-enforces that while we have (enacted) significant measures (in Regina) all throughout Saskatchewan people should do everything…be very cautious even around household bubbles,” he said. Dr Shahab even went so far as to advise people to not even share food with those in their bubbles.

The rise of Variants of Concern (VOC) or mutations of the coronavirus which causes COVID - 19 has provincial health authorities concerned as the new variants are more readily transmissible than the original virus. Over time all viruses mutate to better adapt to their hosts.

The main VOC - B 1.1.7 UK - is listed as 70 percent more transmissible and 30 percent more virulent.

Asked if there was the possibility to enact tougher measures in other southern communities including Moose Jaw Dr Shahab said such measures could occur depending if there is a community spread of VOC cases.

“We are seeing new cases especially in Weyburn and Moose Jaw so I am in constant touch with public health officials who are responsible for these jurisdictions. They are having discussions with their councils and watching closely the transmission patterns,” he said.

“We expected communities close to Regina to be impacted so those who go to and from Regina are also covered by the new health orders.”

At the present time the Province is recommending against taking any unnecessary trip into to or out of Regina. The travel advice is a recommendation only and is not an enforceable measure at the present time.

MJ Independent asked the only questions about COVID - 19 during Tuesday morning’s press conference with city manager Jim Puffalt asking if the City had concerns about the spread of VOCs in the community. Puffalt responded the VOCs are being watched very closely by the COVID - 19 leadership group and the VOCs have impacted the City’s plans to open City Hall for more hours than the present four hours daily on weekdays.

“If we see lots of cases, either variants of concern or otherwise that are not linked to one another, that speaks to uncontrolled community transmission. If we start to see that in any community, unfortunately, we would have to think of further progressive measures that are impacted,” Dr Shahab said.

Scott Livingstone, CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), said the rise in hospital admissions due to COVID - 19 comes as no surprise.

“We expect admissions to rise across the province,” Livingstone said.

Patients who have recovered sufficiently in Regina’s ICUs are being transferred as quickly as possible to rural hospitals to help relieve the pressure on Regina’s healthcare facilities.

Dr Shahab asked people to limit their contacts in order to stop the spread.

“We need to keep the numbers of our contacts as low as possible…I think it is going to be a key factor. Limiting our contacts outside of our households as little as possible especially in Regina in indoor settings,” he said.

He also said there has been “poor compliance to protocols” in Regina especially with the number of complaints received increasing especially amongst younger people not following the present restrictions.

Dr Shahab said what is happening in Saskatchewan right now due to VOCs is not unique and other jurisdictions in Canada and elsewhere are going through the same surge.

DRIVE - THRU VACCINATION CLINIC

Livingstone said the start up of the Moose Jaw and the other drive - thru clinics is “dependent upon vaccine availability.” With the majority of drive-thru clinics starting in April.

“Depending on vaccine supply we may be open to drive - thrus in the last week of March…many of the sites will be more seasonal and set up in parking lots.”

More information about the drive-thru vaccination clinics will be made public as more vaccine becomes available.

On John Gormley Live this past Wednesday Premier Scott Moe stated that a drive-thru vaccination clinic is set to open in Moose Jaw by the end of the month.