Saskatchewan Health Authority and affiliated agencies are ramping up actions in combating COVID-19 prior to the December 17 review date for the current set of restrictions and guidelines. The moves are on several fronts.

Saskatchewan health agencies are advising that northern residents avoid travel outside their communities due to the increase in COVID-19 cases across the northern zones. The advisory was issued on December 11 by the Northern Medical Health Officers for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Athabasca Health Authority, and the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority. In recent weeks the upsurge in cases that has swept the province has taken a particularly strong foothold in the north. Many of these cases have been linked to travel outside the north to other regions of the province or to inter-provincial travel.  

While not a stated restriction, as was the case earlier in the year, these agencies have provided strong recommendations for residents of the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District not venture south and that travel between communities in the District be restricted to essential needs only. 

In Regina and Saskatoon, the hours of drive through testing, along with the staffing complement, are being expanded to meet demand. Starting in January, Saskatoon hours will shift to Monday to Friday from 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 - 4:00 pm. The testing location remains 3639 Thatcher Avenue.

In Regina, the hours expand from 11:30 am - 7:00 pm, seven days a week at the International Trade Centre, Evraz Place. Drive through testing is also available in Prince Albert and Yorkton.

Additionally many Saskatchewan emergency medical service providers will be committing to supporting the testing campaign by offering peer-to-peer swabbing. The idea is to speed up the process of testing for EMS providers, thereby ensuring ambulances can remain in service. Nearly 500 paramedics are training to do the swabbing, states an SHA release. Those paramedics with Transportation of Dangerous Goods Training can also assist in the transport of those samples to nearby testing sites. 

Dr. Saqib Shahab and Premier Scott Moe will be providing a live streamed update on December 14 at 3:00 pm.