REGINA – First Alberta, now Saskatchewan: on Sunday, the province broke three negative records, registering the highest number of new daily cases, hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care. In fact, Saskatchewan reported 543 new cases of Covid-19 and 1 death on Sunday and 439 new cases on Saturday, thus adding 982 infections in total over the weekend. And also on Friday there were 472 cases, of which 383 (81%) detected in unvaccinated individuals, 25 (5%) partially vaccinated and 64 (14%) fully vaccinated, as evidenced by the graphic (in the pic above) published on the Saskatchewan government’s Twitter page (https://twitter.com/SKGov). 

 249 people in hospital, including 55 ICU patients. The cases considered still active in Saskatchewan are 4,586. Saskatoon leads the dismal ranking with 1,114, while the northern region is recording the second highest number of active cases with 670 in the north-west area and 587 in the north-central area. Regina currently has 378 active cases. Going into detail, the new cases are located in the Far North West (26), Far North East (15), North West (64), North Central (70), North East (48), Saskatoon (149), Central West ( eight), the Central East (28), Regina (47), South West (24), Central South (19) and South East (26) areas, while another 19 are being located. The seven-day average for new daily cases of Covid-19 in Saskatchewan is now 484 daily infections.

The surge in cases has forced Prime Minister Scott Moe to implement a series of restrictions. “The fourth wave is led almost entirely by unvaccinated people – he said – and the choice not to get vaccinated is creating consequences for others and I would say that very soon it will create consequences for those who have made the decision to remain unvaccinated,” he added.

“The Saskatchewan government has been very patient, but the time for patience is over,” Moe said, before announcing that from October 1 the requirement for proof of vaccination (or a negative test) will be necessary to enter indoors such as restaurants, casinos, cinemas and indoor sports facilities. Moe himself pointed out that tests that can be used instead of proof of vaccination will not be paid for with public money. Proof of vaccination (or negative test) will not be required in grocery stores, places of worship, and fast food outlets offering takeout and home delivery. Workplaces are exempted, even if closed to the public. But masks must always be used, in any indoor place.

As of Sunday, 1,520,086 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Saskatchewan, up 4,522 since Saturday. 717,871 residents (out of a total of 1,174,000 inhabitants) are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, on Saturday Alberta no-vaxes gathered before the legislature in Edmonton for what organizers called a “demonstration for freedom” in opposition to the Covid-19 health measures decided by Prime Minister Jason Kenney (into effect today) to stem the wave of new cases (2,020 only on Friday) in the hope of relieving the hospitals of the province, which are now collapsing.

About 400 people took part in the “World Wide Rally for Freedom”: the demonstrators waved Canadian flags and displayed signs to express their disappointment with the public health measures. One of the handmade signs, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”. Another: “Don’t believe fake news,” echoing a sentiment often shared by former US President Donald Trump.

Other Canadian cities were hosting their own “rallies”: among these, according to the organizers, also Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal.