COVID-19: Small Meetings, Better Pretest to Avoid New Years Spread, Sask. officials say | The Canadian News

With New Years Eve and New Years Day upon us, Saskatchewan officials offered their best advice on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Despite not setting any meeting limits, Saskatchewan’s director of medical health advised residents to only have up to 10 people in their home at a time, and to keep those people limited to the same two or three homes.

Rather than hopping from one place or house to another on New Years, Dr. Saqib Shahab said residents should try to stay in the same place or connect virtually.

Shahab believes that the broadcast on New Years Eve will be more comparable to the broadcast of Christmas gatherings, comparing it to October, when the province saw more broadcasts after Halloween than after Thanksgiving.

“I think we have to do what we can to keep the New Year’s Eve celebration safe, and we will see an increase (but) we have to manage the increase and keep it as low as possible,” Shahab said during a COVID-19 update. . Thursday.

Prime Minister Scott Moe also urged residents to take advantage of quick tests before leaving on Friday or Saturday.

Trend stories

• 

  Almost all provinces set new record for COVID-19 cases as Omicron sweeps Canada

• 

  Epstein and Giuffre deal to be made public and affect Prince Andrew’s case

Moe echoed Shahab’s guidance to stay in an establishment and wear a mask when not seated at a table.

Moe shared the personal story of a woman he knows to show why rapid testing, even when she has no symptoms, is important.

“(She) did (a quick test) this morning on the way to the gym, she doesn’t have any symptoms. The test was positive. (She) obviously didn’t go to the gym (and) canceled the other places she had for the day, ”Moe explained.

Moe said that by doing this, the woman prevented the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 to other people.

“Our testing strategy is truly an offensive strategy as we look to the future over the next few weeks and months and to break the transmission of Omicron infections,” added Moe.

See link »