Still no rapid-testing in Sask. schools; division and school staff conducting contact-tracing
REGINA – Today, the Official Opposition is joining the call by Saskatchewan teachers for the Premier to keep his commitment to expand rapid testing and immediately deploy rapid tests to schools experiencing outbreaks in communities across the province. With upwards of 70% of new COVID-19 cases in the Regina area suspected Variants of Concern (VoC) and 67 school outbreaks in just the last two weeks, time is of the essence.
“Last month the premier talked a big game on expanding rapid-testing to schools, but despite rashes of outbreaks in schools across the province, rapid testing still has not been rolled out to help keep kids and school staff safe. Let’s call it what it is. This is a complete abdication of leadership by Premier Moe and his government,” said Carla Beck, Official Opposition Critic for Education.
Over the last few weeks, outbreaks have occurred at numerous schools across the province. Of concern is the recent wave of COVID variants, which have been detected in schools in Saskatoon, Yorkton and is widely suspected to be the prevalent strain in Regina schools, in spite of the government doing its best to keep the public in the dark. Without proper testing and contact tracing, the scale of the problem is going undetected, and this government is flying blind in the face of more transmissible and acute variants.
“Safe Schools Saskatchewan is currently very concerned about the discrepancy in reported COVID case numbers, especially of VOCs, from school divisions versus those from the SHA, as it is impossible to draw any conclusions from these wildly different numbers,” said Margi Corbett, spokesperson for Safe Schools Saskatchewan. “If the government isn’t conducting COVID testing within our schools, how can they claim that they are doing everything possible to keep our schools safe? The government’s biggest priority must be the safety of our staff and students.”
“Schools are making the calls on whether or not to move to online learning, not this government. Principals and superintendents are being stretched thin conducting contact-tracing within their schools with limited resources,” said Beck. “It’s clear, despite herculean efforts, our schools aren’t equipped to manage COVID-19 variants. They need support and they need it now.”
The Official Opposition is demanding that the Sask. Party government immediately deploy rapid-testing to schools, particularly the Regina area, and deploy public health support to relieve school and division staff of contact tracing responsibilities as they manage a situation rapidly spiralling out of control.
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Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.