Saskatoon hospitals monitoring ‘increased COVID-19 activity’

Hospitals in Saskatoon are on high alert as COVID-19 cases increase in the province.

On Thursday afternoon, the City of Saskatoon’s Emergency Management Organization issued a warning across the city warning people of “increased COVID-19 activity” in the city.

“We are asking everyone to be extra vigilant,” the city news release stated.

“Protect yourself and your family at all times during the pandemic by following all public health recommendations and ensuring you do your part to stop the spread.”

Almost immediately afterwards, all Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) locations in Saskatoon, including its three hospitals, updated protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines. 

Masks are now mandatory at all times, even if a two-metre distance can be maintained. Screening protocols remained in place as well, and scheduled appointments and surgeries could be affected.

While the SHA carefully avoided using the term outbreak to describe the sudden shift in Saskatoon’s monitoring of active caseloads, Saskatchewan Union of Nurses President Tracy Zambory didn’t exercise the same caution.

“If you want to call it an outbreak, call it an outbreak,” she said. “We have increased cases, we are in a state of emergency and we’re in a pandemic.”

Zambory confirmed many nurses in Saskatoon are treating patients under “droplet protocol,” which essentially means all patients are being treated as if they have the coronavirus.

Depending on the department and proximity to patients, nurses are using the fullest extent of PPE available to them. That means added measures like goggles, gowns, gloves and face shields, in addition to the already mandatory masks.

“Saskatoon has been declared an area of elevated concern,” Zambory said, adding that she never received a clear definition of what that means to her or members of the union.

“I guess they decided they finally reached a tipping point because we’re getting this increased community transmission. We’ve been talking for quite some time about the second wave, and that’s what’s starting to happen.”

650 CKOM asked the SHA to comment on the changes, but an interview request was denied.

Zambory feels many people in the province aren’t as diligent with distancing rules, frequently washing hands or wearing masks like they were in the spring and summer.

“We need a mandatory masking policy in this province,” she said. “This is only going to get worse if we don’t get back to what is important.”

On Saturday, Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe denied the idea of enacting a provincial mandatory mask policy, instead favouring increased enforcement.

“We are watching the numbers very closely, not so much in an eye to increase masking policies,” Moe said, suggesting to wear a mask when distancing can’t be accomplished.

The province has set fines for a person violating public health guidelines are set at $2,000, while corporations are subject to a $10,000 fine.

“Where they’re necessary they will be handed out,” Moe said. “I trust that public health will make those decisions as they arise.”

Zambory wished the SHA used added transparency and communication when coming to the decision to change protocols across the city.

Around 4 p.m. on Thursday, appointments that were already delayed for months because of the pandemic were being cancelled or rescheduled due to the increased spread in Saskatoon, and the accompanying changes to protocol and procedure.

“It causes the public to become very frustrated because they don’t understand what’s going on,” Zambory said of the sudden decision to change protocols.

“They’re not well communicated with, it’s just all of a sudden a change in the rules. This does not help trying to get buy-in from the public.”