Saskatchewan premier says ‘it is time’ to end COVID restrictions

On Thursday, Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe held a virtual event, in which he discussed the province's plans for dealing with COVID going froward.

Saskatchewan has seen a drop in active cases over the week, leading many to call on the government to relax remaining restrictions.

"There's been a lot of discussion lately about whether it's time for us in Saskatchewan to look at ending all the remaining COVID measures and restrictions that we have in place, " Premier Moe began. "Well, I think it is time."

Premier Moe noted that not only is he hearing calls to end the restrictions, but that similar sentiments are being heard by MLAs from "most of their constituents."

"Now that's not because COVID has ended," Premier Moe emphasized, "it most certainly hasn't. It's because people understand it better. They understand what they need to do; they understand the risk, and they are prepared to live with that risk, more than they are prepared to live with the ongoing government intrusion into their lives."

"Government measures were supposed to last two weeks," he lamented. "Well, it's been two years."

Premier Moe went on to say that with the wide availability of vaccines, tests, and anti-viral treatments, people can assess their risks, and "make the right choices for ourselves and our families."

"What I'm about to say will sound radical to some, and some quite frankly aren't going to like it," the premier continued, "but eradicating COVID is not realistic and 'COVID-zero' is not achievable; but, normalizing COVID, or living with COVID most certainly is."

Premier Moe warned that "this perpetual state of crisis is having a harmful impact on everyone."

According to CKOM, Saskatchewan has 10,354 active cases as of February 2, bringing the total case count to 11,894. Of those, 108,543 have recovered, and 997 have died. The province has administered 1,860,950 vaccines.

Omicron has seen a jump in cases among the vaccinated, however the vast majority of those who have been hospitalized or died are still the unvaccinated. This proves that the vaccines are working as intended, and are peoples' best safeguard against serious illness and death.