Premier Scott Moe’s announcement that the government is in the planning stages of phasing in relaxed measures to gradually reopen the economy is not sitting well with health care unions. In a statement on April 15, Saskatchewan Union of Nurses President Tracy Zambory cautioned that the move was premature and could potentially lead to dire consequences.

While Moe intoned that the government’s optimism is born out of a significant drop in new cases, Zambory said that beginning to open new business segments at this point may not be the best course. Zambory was particularly concerned with insufficient PPE like masks or respirators in the event of a larger sustained outbreak. At its current rates of usage, the Saskatchewan Health Authority notes it has an approximately 30 day supply on hand. Zambory and the Nurses’ Union doesn’t think that will be enough if a spike occurs because of relaxed restrictions.

Zambory also notes that the rates of testing are not where they need to be for accurate ongoing monitoring of the virus’ spread. The government is targeting 1,500 tests per day or beyond, but Zambory indicated that the highest rate of testing to date has been 1,051.

“How can we talk about reopening before we have that testing? I think it’s a very premature move,” Zambory said.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) - West President Barbara Cape echoed the concerns. SEIU-West represents thousands of health care providers throughout the province. Cape fears that talk of relaxing the measures will send a signal that post-coronavirus life has arrived and people will start behaving as though the threat no longer exists, in spite of the Premier’s and Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab’s warnings to the public about not becoming complacent. 

“When you start to make those sorts of announcements, people get a little sloppy,” Cape said. “They start to bend the rules. I think the Premier and Dr. Shahab are feeling a fair amount of pressure from the public. And if I could give them some advice, I’d say stay the course.”

Premier Moe may also seemingly be at odds with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who, in his daily address on April 16, cautioned about the prospect of opening up too soon.           

“We are in fact many weeks away from even talking about  doing anything to reopen our economy,” stated Trudeau, “Even with the variations across the country of the local state of the pandemic.”

In spite of the debate, the provincial government, facing mounting pressures on the economic front, proceeds with its planning this week and a stated intent of releasing details as early as next week.