Saskatchewan has entered its first phase of service resumption, which means that in pockets of the province some everyday health services are being provided to the public.
In most cases, the public will have a different health care experience than prior to the pandemic due to the additional measures put in place to protect patients and staff, including:
- adaptation of waiting room practices to promote physical distancing;
- additional emphasis on virtual care, wherever possible; and
- additional screening at health care facilities.
The SHA is asking for patience as these practices are necessary for safety reasons, but may cause some delay for patients seeking care.
Health services being resumed will be published at the link below, in conjunction with direct or local communications to patients and clients. Patients are encouraged to check the SHA website before they visit at saskhealthauthority.ca/service-resumption.
Surgical patients are reminded that they will be contacted by their physicians, if their surgery is to be included within the expanded “urgent six week” surgeries. You are not required to follow-up with your doctor. Specific information on surgical wait times can be found on the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative website.
Details on the SHA’s Service Resumption Plan can be found at saskatchewan.ca/COVID-19 under Health System Pandemic Response.
Effective Reproductive Number
A statistic being reported weekly in Saskatchewan is the Effective Reproductive Number (ERN). The ERN reflects the average number of people one person with the virus in Saskatchewan is likely to infect at the current time, after the effects of interventions have been factored in. An ERN consistently below 1.0 means the virus is being managed effectively through personal and public health preventative measures.
This past week, the models have been further enhanced to incorporate improved access to real-time data, resulting in a clearer picture of ERN in local areas, particularly in the Far North-North. The ERN has continued to decline to 1.87 in the Far North-North reflecting a slowing in the spread of the virus, although it is still above 1.0. The rest of the province remains relatively stable at 0.62.
SHA to Expand Testing
Starting on May 25, 2020, Saskatchewan residents can call Healthline 811 to determine if they can be referred for testing based on the additional expanded testing guidelines.
Current Testing Guidelines:
- Individuals with unexplained new or worsening symptoms of any severity (including mild) of COVID-19. Symptoms may include one or more of the following: fever, cough, headache, aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose, dizziness, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, tiredness, a skin rash, discolouration of fingers or toes, loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or chest pain.
- Individuals identified by public health as a contact to someone known or suspected to have COVID-19, and in whom asymptomatic testing will aid in the control of transmission.
- Individuals identified by public health as being at high risk of infection due to active spread of COVID-19 in their community or workplace.
- All residents upon admission/re-admission to a long-term care or personal care home.
- All residents and staff in long-term care and personal care homes upon notification of a COVID-19 positive resident or staff member.
Additional Expanded Testing Guidelines:
- Testing available to any one working outside the home, including those currently working, or returning to work as part of the Reopen Saskatchewan plan, who desire a test.
- Testing immunocompromised asymptomatic individuals such as cancer patients, in advance of undergoing immunosuppressive procedures such as chemotherapy.
- Testing all patients upon admission or in advance of a planned admission to an acute care hospital for a stay anticipated to be greater than 24 hours. This includes all expectant mothers entering a health facility to give birth.
- Increased testing for populations that are homeless or living in other vulnerable settings.
- Testing available to all health care workers caring for immunocompromised patients.
- Mobile (worksite) testing for anyone who desires a test in high volume work settings (factories, industrial settings, etc.).