SHA unveils more of its strategies for controlling COVID-19

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) revealed more of its strategy Tuesday for its ongoing battle against COVID-19.

With Phase 1 of the authority’s plan to resume services set to begin May 19, the SHA reiterated the schedule to roll out some services will vary around the province because the number of cases or outbreaks differs by region.

The SHA noted the effective reproductive number — the average number of people one person with the virus is likely to infect given the current level of precautions being taken — is now 2.13 in the north and far north of Saskatchewan. That number is just 0.75 in the rest of province.

If that number is below 1.0, it means the virus is being managed well through preventative measures.

The SHA added to its offensive strategy for controlling the virus by launching plans to:

• Provide virtual connections with family for long-term care residents through donations of phones and iPads;
• Increase the authority’s communication with First Nations and Metis communities through a newly created committee;
• Discuss COVID-19 plans with community-based organizations through town halls and discussions;
• Offer mental health support for health-care workers via a help line that will be open from 8 a.m., to 11 p.m., seven days a week;
• Increase the capacity of ground ambulance services and the number of advanced care paramedics in northern Saskatchewan;
• Streamline communication regarding the declaration of outbreaks; and,
• Provide more support for La Loche, including Managed Alcohol Programs to assist those who have an addiction.

The SHA’s defensive strategy continues to prepare for a surge in cases, should one happen. On Tuesday, the SHA said it had:

• Started the process of converting community hospitals to Alternate Level of Care facilities, a temporary change that will protect the community’s most vulnerable. The facilities are closed to emergency service and acute care admissions and will accept only admissions of patients requiring non-urgent levels of care. The program, which is to happen over the next four to six weeks, started Friday in Kerrobert, Herbert, Preeceville, Broadview, Radville and Lanigan.
• Created the COVID-19 Pathway, which the SHA said is “a framework for how patients (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) best access and flow through the health-care system at a local and provincial level.”

More to come.