With Premier Scott Moe making it no secret that he wants to lift proof of vaccination mandates in the coming days, health officials are laying out plans to help residents live with COVID-19.  

Moe has said on a couple of different occasions that vaccines are not stopping the transmission of COVID-19 and so the mandate has run its course.  

Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said, with the booster shot, vaccines have proven to reduce severe outcomes for those who contract COVID-19.  

Moe also said in a video on Twitter Wednesday night that everyone should be able to go out to events or gatherings without having to assess if it is absolutely necessary. Shahab said you need to do your own risk assessment at this point. 

“We should all know our risk and continue to observe caution when you're out and about, have the best mask, even a respirator type mask with a tight fit and have a plan written out that we and our friends and household members know how to quickly access therapeutics as required,” Shahab said.  

When it came to lifting the proof of vaccination mandate, Shahab said it isn’t his decision to make.  

“Respectfully, I'd like to say that I've been very clear throughout the pandemic on what my recommendations are, what my interpretation of the data is, but I have to leave it at that. I don't speak for or cannot speak on behalf of elected officials or premiers. I think that's been true throughout Saskatchewan briefings,” he said.  

We have a poll on Discover Moose Jaw right now asking if you think the vaccine mandate should be lifted.  

With the province moving towards living with COVID-19, there will be more changes coming to testing. Beginning Monday, PCR tests will now be done by appointment only through Healthline 811.  

The PCR testing will also be reserved for people with an elevated risk of severe outcomes including the following:  

Hospitalized patients, those admitted or transferred between acute, long-term care or personal care homes   

High-risk populations as ordered by the medical health officer: residents in long-term care, personal care homes and congregate living facilities; and international or travellers from areas of concern   

Priority symptomatic persons: health care workers or essential workers who have a negative rapid antigen test but remain symptomatic; those with chronic illness (diabetes, history of cancer, cardiac failure, etc.)   

Symptomatic people living or working in First Nation and Métis communities.    

Surgical patients with symptoms or a positive rapid antigen test if scheduled or expecting to receive surgery within the next 90 days.   

Symptomatic pregnant patients and more than 30 weeks gestation.   

Symptomatic immunocompromised individuals including all transplant donors and recipients before and post-transplant; all oncology patients before, receiving or post-chemotherapy.   

Newborns born to COVID-19-positive parents, before discharge. 

Medical health officers may also order PCR testing in the case of an outbreak.  

The public posting of outbreaks in the community will now be limited to long-term and personal care homes. Outbreaks will no longer be listed for other settings such as events, places of worship, daycares and workplaces.  

Also beginning Monday, COVID-19 data will be reported weekly instead of daily reports.