Top flight: Vital ventilators headed for India from Sask. Saskatchewan is sending 100 ventilators to help India in its battle against a surge in COVID-19 cases that have strained hospitals.
Author of the article: Regina Leader-Post
Publishing date: May 12, 2021 • 1 hour ago • 2 minute read • Darrell Novenski, an Air Canada lead, loads boxes carrying ventilators on to a plane at the Regina International Airport in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 12, 2021. The ventilators are being sent as a donation to India, to assist with that country s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-Post
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Ventilators from Saskatchewan are now winging their way to India.
Posted: May 11, 2021 6:23 AM CT | Last Updated: May 11
A quarter of Saskatchewan thirtysomethings have already received one shot of COVID-19 vaccine, despite eligibility having only opened up to their cohort one week ago. Laura and Joel Antymniuk are among them. (Laura Ant)
SASKATOON Health Minister Paul Merriman said he’s hopeful Saskatchewan’s daily case count will stay low so the province can slowly start reopening at the end of the month, but one expert says the plan could easily be upended. With 70 per cent of people 40-years-and-over vaccinated, the province is planning to expand household bubbles and gathering limits on May 30. Places of worship and restaurant capacity can also increase, under Step One of the re-open plan. Merriman said the re-open plan is based on vaccination rates, but officials are also looking at daily COVID-19 cases as an indicator of reopening readiness.
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CALGARY Neighbouring provinces are eyeing Saskatchewan’s plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions in tandem with vaccination rates, but experts are warning the approach could lead some to a false sense of security.
Saskatchewan’s “reopening road map” outlined last week says public health measures are to start to relax three weeks after 70 per cent of residents 40 and older have received their first shot and all adults are eligible.
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Step 1, which could take effect as soon as month’s end, would allow restaurants and bars to seat six at a table, fitness classes to resume with three metres between participants and gathering limits to ease.
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Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman says he is confident people will roll up a sleeve for a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as their turn arrives.
Merriman told reporters on Friday that he is optimistic more people will get the shot as they see friends and neighbours receiving it, adding that he would like to see younger cohorts aspire to the sky-high vaccination rate among Saskatchewan’s oldest citizens.
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Eighty-eight per cent of the estimated 51,307 people aged 80 and older had received a vaccine as of Friday.