As the province extended its public mask regulations to the end of November, Dr. Saqib Shahab made an emotional plea during a web conference for individuals to take additional measures. With no additional health orders seemingly coming from the government, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer took it upon himself to coach residents on exercising their own discipline when it comes to gatherings.

That appeal came in light of Wednesday’s revelation by health officials that if no further action is taken, ICUs in the province could remain under siege for the foreseeable future. Other scenarios provided included the deployment of booster shots for select groups, 14 and 18 day gathering restrictions combined with boosters, and 28 day limits in combination with extended mask mandates and vaccination proofs. 

During his address, Shahab sounded shaken by what had transpired and what could be on the horizon.

“I have no shame in pleading to the public that we’ve gone so far and we just have to pull together for the next few weeks or months,” said Shahab, audibly emotional. “It's distressing to see what is happening in our ICUs and hospitals and I’m sorry. It's a very challenging time.” 

All of the proposed restrictions and actions resulted in modelling projections that would see the spike reach a  plateau sooner and hospitalizations return to sustainable levels. No additional action would see more and more patients airlifted out of the province, the data indicated. 

Shahab also continued the appeal for people to be fully vaccinated in light of continuing evidence that the vast majority of hospital and ICU cases, and subsequent deaths, are among the unvaccinated.