Thread by @AHiddyCBC

Health Min. Paul Merriman is going over policies coming into place on Fri.

Says SHA not providing testing for asymptomatic people for the purposes of proving negative for work or to access activities.

Asymptomatic testing is still available for people deemed close contacts.

U of S has 91 per cent fully vaccinated and 96 per cent with at least one dose. Its vaccine policy was introduced before the fall semester began.

Merriman says govt. is making rapid tests more available to the public at multiple locations.

475,000 tests to schools for students under 12 who are ineligible.

I should note the province has received 1.8 million rapid tests from Ottawa and used 309,000.

I have corrected this story which indicated 3.7 million and 600,000 used.

The percentage of delivered tests used remains 16%.

My apologies.

cbc.ca/news/canada/sa…

Merriman says unvaccinated are prolonging the pandemic.

Says most deaths are unvaccinated.

Shahab says schools "are not the source of transmission."

He says unvaccinated households are driving transmissions that are ending up in schools.

1/3 of cases are school-aged.

Shahab says he can count on 1 hand the number of people who have had a bad reaction to the vaccine out of 1.5 million doses in the province.

394 new cases today and 334 are unvaccinated. 90 of those are under 12.

3 more deaths and 2 more people in ICU total 67.

295 hospitalizations.

@MMandryk says what has happened in Saskatchewan is not happenstance and asks the minister why he hasn't apologized for the govt's actions.

Merriman: "I take responsibility for the good, the bad, and everything in the health care system."

Says decisions made at points in time.

@MMandryk do you realize you've made missteps? Asks Merriman if he has considered resigning. Asks again if he will apologize.

Merriman says takes his responsibility. Says he hasn't taken a day off. Takes everything "extremely seriously."

@thinktankSK asks what public health orders could be coming and why the govt. isn't implementing more. Mentions SMA, SUN and city of Saskatoon, some MHOs asking for further measures. Specifically with the north having the worst rates in Canada.

Shahab says north has asked for gathering rules. Shahab says unvaccinated people should not engage in household gatherings.

Says "very challenging" fall with more gatherings indoors.

"If things don't change maybe other public health orders will be required."

Follow-up @philtank reasks on measures why not and asks if this isn't a crisis what is.

Merriman: "it's an extremely challenging situation." I'm hearing this directly and sometimes indirectly from the doctors.

He'll consider the #yxe recommendation when it's brought forward.

Merriman asked by @arthurwhiteLP where he's been. He says he has not been as available as he has in past.

Will make himself more available.

Merriman says he's been working on COVID and non-COVID in health.

He last appeared on Aug. 25.

Q from @arthurwhiteLP does the minister take responsibility for the delay in implementing measures after ruling out more measures on Aug. 25.

"I do assume responsibility at the end of the day it stops on my desk."

Merriman on acquiring more monoclonal antibody treatments.

He says the province has not used as much as been used in other places.

Looking to add to what health care can use to help those with COVID-19.

Shahab says "tragic" that people can't access health care in the province at the moment.

Q from @allisonbamford asks why Merriman rejected human health care assistance. And what is the threshold to ask for people on the ground.

Why not be proactive and ask for people?

Merriman: says the govt. is being proactive. "Best way to deal with this is vaccination."

SHA's Derek Miller says 85% of ICU capacity are COVID patients.

Miller says those who require emergency care should seek it.

Shahab says "fall and winter of misery." He says no Thanksgiving or Christmas at this current rate.

Says govt. decides on what policies are put in place.

Merriman says "not at that point" where the province is asking Ottawa for docs, nurses etc.

Exploring options.

Merriman says "significant health measures" have been put in place.

Said health measures would "slow things down temporarily"

Restates the importance of vaccines.

I asked Merriman why modelling isn't shared with physicians and what it says.

Merriman says it's a tool but not always accurate.

Miller says SHA relies on modelling to plan.

5% of new cases need hosp. in 2 weeks and 1% will need ICU.

Shahab: "we are having a mass casualty event every day."

I asked the minister what level of cases or deaths before he asks for help in the form of people or implement new health measures.

He didn't provide a specific.

Shahab says current case loads are untenable.

But says lockdown measures are "blunt tools."

@Danthenewsman asks about low vaccine rates in the far north. Merriman says govt. working with partners and federal govt. to get more people vaccinated.

Shahab says SHA has addressed pockets of undervaccination all over province.

@zakvescera mentions SHA CEO saying Sask. could be three weeks away from triage in ICU decisions.

Merriman says future of the curve and hospital strain will depend on unvaccinated.

Merriman: "this is on the people that are unvaccinated" to determine next few months of COVID.

@zakvescera says Merriman if he regrets saying vaccination was a personal choice on Aug. 25 when he now says unvaccinated are to blame.

Merriman says govt. has tried to be "surgical" in its decision-making. Says Aug. 25 govt. wasn't considering vaccine requirements or mandates.