File photo/CJME Staff

By CJME News

Chief medical health officer encourages reporting people violating public health orders

Nov 28, 2020 | 11:49 AM

New public health orders for indoor public events, team sports and masking went into effect Friday and Saskatchewan Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab says it’s vital they’re followed.

Shahab is encouraging people to report anyone who doesn’t follow those orders.

“If there’s any information about possible or past non- compliance with the new public health orders…where you can not have any gathering more than 30—and even at that, food can not be served, so if anyone has any information on that, there is a public health order non-compliance reporting form where reports can be made,” he said.

Shahab also sites the Saskatchewan public health safety number.

“The time for education is now mostly over,’ he explains. “Any immediate non-compliance will and should be met through fines and other measures.”

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According to data presented to doctors last Wednesday, cases and hospitalizations in the province have gone up by 400 per cent in the last 30 days alone.

In the days and weeks ahead, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) says up to half of all acute care hospital beds could be taken up by COVID patients alone.

Shahab says the new measures minimize the chance that anyone has more than a small number of contacts—he’s also warning what may happen if people don’t adhere to the restrictions.

“If we look at ways to circumvent them, then I’m afraid you know, we would be heading into dangerous territory both for the healthcare system and potentially for a full lockdown.”

He adds that its imperative to follow the new rules and to keep a count on the number of close contacts during any given three days.

While shopping, at restaurants, at a gym, or even at work, he adds that everyone should be able to confidently state that they followed all public health guidelines.