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The provincial government’s COVID-19 measures are adequate for time being to deal with the fourth wave in Regina, says city manager Chris Holden.
However, Holden did not rule out the potential for council to lobby the province for stronger action.
Conversations between the city, Saskatchewan Health Authority and provincial government happen on a daily basis but have “ramped up” recently.
“For Regina right now, our conversation with SHA is the actions that the province is putting in place should be sufficient,” Holden said during a news conference on Wednesday.
“That circumstance may change. If it does, then obviously we’ll have to re-evaluate that.”
Earlier that day, Saskatoon’s council passed a motion calling for the province to enact a public health order limiting the size of gatherings.
A province-wide mask mandate took effect on Sept. 17. The Saskatchewan government also required employees of ministries, Crown corporations and agencies to get vaccinated. Starting Friday, proof of vaccination or negative test will be required to enter various businesses and establishments.
When asked about calling for further measures, Holden said the situation with the fourth wave in Regina is not as “extreme” as it is in Saskatoon but noted that COVID-19 cases in Regina could very well catch up.
When it comes to COVID-19 measures, he’s heard that municipalities want the province to be the one taking the lead.
“The city mayors across the 15 larger cities are in constant communication with the Ministry of Government Relations. And the cities really want to see restrictions and processes put in place by the province,” Holden said.
“They’re the ones that have the health experts. They’re the ones that have a Ministry of Health. They have the SHA. The City of Regina, we have a great relationship with SHA and a great relationship with the province but they’re the ones that need to make the medical decisions.”
He gave a reminder of the time the City of Regina declared its own state of emergency only to be overruled by the province, which said it wanted uniform pandemic rules across all communities.
Holden said that’s a scenario the city wants to avoid, preferring to have council advocate to the province to act.
Health care workers in the province have also been demanding further action by the province. In a joint news release from the Saskatchewan Medical Association and Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, the bodies called for three measures.
First, to limit indoor gatherings for private and public events. Second, to disclose more detailed information about vaccination, case counts and hospitalizations. Third, to provide resources for contact tracing by “appropriately trained staff.”
Vaccine uptake high among city staff
Out of 2,555 active employees, Holden says there have been private meetings with 2,133 of them to discuss their vaccination status.
Of those surveyed so far, 83 per cent of staff are fully vaccinated.
Workers who are not vaccinated will be subject to testing on a weekly basis.
The city will set up its own testing site with tests administered by the fire department. Testing will be paid for by the city for a while.
“We want to be fair and reasonable. Give people time to go and get that first shot. We all know 28 days later, they’re eligible for a second shot and it’s 14 days to be qualified or certified as fully vaccinated,” Holden said.
Holden said the city will stop paying for testing for unvaccinated employees by approximately mid-November.
