As the Omicron variant sweeps through the province, multiple outbreaks have been declared, currently including four different hospitals. 

Outbreaks have currently been declared in Saskatoon at The Royal University Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, and the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital as well as in Regina at the Regina General Hospital. 

In last week's media briefing hosted by The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, Derek Miller, Chief of Emergency Operations with the Saskatchewan Health Authority said that many protocols are in place in order to be able to manage the potential risk of transmission in health care facilities. 

“We would be working to mitigate and minimize any potential impact on services and continue to provide the operations going forward throughout that outbreak," he said. 

Miller added that transmission among staff is something that is monitored very closely. 

“We monitor and we test staff on a regular basis as part of those normal protocols that are in place to mitigate the risk of transmission,” he said. 

In addition, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saquib Shahab noted that while we see the recent surge in the Omicron variant, it is especially important to follow the current guidelines that are set in place. 

“Right now, I think the choice is becoming very stark,” Shahab stated. “Omicron transmission is rising exponentially and while we have universal mass skills, and while it's critical that all of us, but especially frontline essential workers; whether it's education, health, you know utilities, grocery stores, we all get boosted and wear our best mask. 

“It's also important that we minimize all non-essential contacts. Obviously, we have to go to work, the risks in the work setting have to be managed by the occupational health and safety teams which includes cohorting of staff and units.”  

Shahab noted that while the Omicron variant is less severe than other variants, the impact on workplaces is still significant. 

“I think what we've seen in other countries and other jurisdictions is that you know, Omicron is less severe especially if you're fully vaccinated which is good news but it still does impact you know, workplaces to a significant extent,” he said. “So, you know, healthcare is no different from any other sector, and we really need to hunker down and only do what is essential and minimize other non-essential contacts for the next I would say two to four weeks at least to really keep our surge as low as possible.”