Premier Scott Moe (Lisa Schick/980 CJME file photo)

By 650 CKOM News

Provincial Emergency Operations Centre takes command of COVID response in Sask.

Oct 7, 2021 | 10:32 AM

Saskatchewan’s Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) is being tasked with responding to COVID-19 in the province.

On Thursday, Premier Scott Moe announced the Provincial Command is being activated through the PEOC.

“This is being done to better co-ordinate the pandemic response between government ministries and staff, ensure the right resources are in the right place at the right time and provide administrative support so health care workers can focus their efforts on providing the best possible care to patients,” Moe said in a media release.

“Responsibility for public health recommendations and orders will continue to be managed by the Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. (Saqib) Shahab.”

Starting Thursday, the PEOC will be responsible for the operational, planning, logistical and administrative aspects of the emergency response to COVID-19, including the management of staffing across the health-care system and co-ordination and deployment of provincial supports and activities.

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It also will provide updates to the public through media briefings.

The Provincial Command is to be led by a joint management team comprising Marlo Pritchard, the president of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone, and Max Hendricks, the province’s deputy minister of health.

“This structure has worked extremely well during other provincial emergencies,” Pritchard said in the release. “The pressures in our health-care system as a result of COVID-19 has demanded all the resources of the SHA, and now require the resources of the entire province through Provincial Command.

“Our health-care system has been working to support the people of Saskatchewan, and this will ensure that Saskatchewan is supporting our health-care system with every tool we have available.”

Provincial Command is expected to operate for the duration of the provincial emergency order, which was declared on Sept. 13.

More to come.