Saskatchewan Health Authority
701 Queen Street S7K 0M7 Saskatoon, SK, Canada

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) continues to escalate its response to COVID-19, using the Health System Readiness Plan to guide actions being taken to contain, delay and mitigate the virus. This includes the SHA’s system redeployment plan to identify services that will be slowed to support: - Additional staff needed to support a surge in testing and contact tracing; - Additional hospital staff needed to support increases in COVID hospitalizations and ICU admiss...ions; - Additional long term care staff needed to support staff cohorting and outbreak management; - Responsiveness to situations where large numbers of staff are required to isolate due to being a close contact with a positive case. To date, the SHA has been able to manage recent surges in hospitalizations and ICU admissions largely through existing capacity and adaptations to services. These adaptations of services include the use of bypass procedures for high volume acute care units, use of surge spaces, the conversion of hospitals to COVID-only hospitals and temporary pauses on admissions and other acute care services in some areas. Small reductions in surgical volumes have also been required in Saskatoon. For more information: https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca//SHA-continues-to-escal

The latest COVID-19 cases as shared by the Government of Saskatchewan

Latest COVID-19 cases from the Government of Saskatchewan

REMINDER: The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is reminding everyone who enters our facilities that masking is mandatory. COVID-19 is everywhere in Saskatchewan. Taking measures to reduce the spread is critical to keeping the Saskatchewan healthcare system functioning, including mandatory masking in all indoor public facilities in Saskatchewan, as identified in the November 19th public health order. Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities are not exempt from this order. I...n fact, masking in our facilities has been a requirement for a number of months. Everyone in an SHA facility must be masked at all times. If you refuse to wear a mask, or refuse to wear it properly, you will be refused entry to the facility or will be asked to leave. Read the full news release: https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca//Masking-mandatory-in-a

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is reminding everyone who enters our facilities that masking is mandatory. COVID-19 is everywhere in Saskatchewan. Taking measures to reduce the spread is critical to keeping the Saskatchewan healthcare system functioning, including mandatory masking in all indoor public facilities in Saskatchewan, as identified in a new public health order on November 19. Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities are not exempt from this order. In fact,... masking in our facilities has been a requirement for a number of months. Everyone in an SHA facility must be masked at all times. If you refuse to wear a mask, or refuse to wear it properly, you will be refused entry to the facility or will be asked to leave. Read the full news release: https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca//Masking-mandatory-in-a

HOPE in a time of uncertainty and darkness By Laura Alexander, LPN I was inspired by a leader from the Emotions Anonymous Group I attend in Melfort, to spread the work and bring it to lightliterally!... My name is Laura Alexander. I am a Licensed Practical Nurse in a small, rural hospital in Melfort. Since COVID-19 came into our lives, I’ve depended more than ever on the support, kindness and love of my co-workers, managers, facility administrator, physicians, and other members of our health care team. I am fortunate that I work with such amazing people. These other nurses are not only my co-workers and friends, but they are also my work family. We have been through everything together. We help bring life into the world, and ease the suffering of those dying. We’ve been through traumas and many busy shifts. COVID-19 has really made the last eight months challenging, personally and professionally. As a woman who suffers from bipolar 2 disorder, I found myself, more than ever, struggling with my mental health and could recognize that the people I love to work with, were suffering too. I wanted to do some little things to help boost morale. My co-worker, Kayla Kuzek, came up with an idea of doing a 12 days of Christmas theme for December and asked for my help. I was elated to be involved, and it kind of snow-balled from there. The HOPE light display, which consists of three strands of Christmas lights, many zip ties and wire, took a pair or two of wet duty shoes and some very cold fingers to make. I was just a little something I thought could remind people, dailywhen they came to work or drove by, that we can get through this together if we continue to have hope. COVID-19 might be scary but our unity as a team has never been stronger. I need to thank my friend Dave Favreau for his encouragement and support with my idea. He and his wife Pauline have been huge role models in my life. Thank you to my children and family. There are so many who have inspired me to do this. I hope other hospitals and residents in Saskatchewan will take up this hope movement. Share your banners, signs, lights and actions. We could all use a little more hope right now. As we near the end of 2020 let’s rememberwe will persevere through COVID-19! Read more about what this 'simple gesture' of hope has meant to Laura's co-workers: https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca//Hope-shines-in-Melfort

The latest public health measures from the Government of Saskatchewan

ICYMI: Earlier today, the Government of Saskatchewan announced construction is moving ahead on an expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital, to help meet the needs of families from across northern Saskatchewan. Following a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, the Saskatchewan Health Authority selected Quorex Construction Services Ltd. of Saskatoon as the successful bidder on the $2 million project. Funding for the project will come ...from the Victoria Hospital Foundation. Construction of the unit is targeted for completion in July of 2021, with a plan to be operational in late summer next year. When complete, the expanded unit will have space to accommodate up to 11 medically fragile babies and their families, keeping more infants closer to home. Prince Albert supports 1,500 births as the third largest high risk maternal care site in Saskatchewan, including infants as low as 34 weeks gestation. Read the full news release: https://www.saskatchewan.ca//neonatal-intensive-care-unit-

Exciting news in the drive to eliminate cervical cancer in Canada!

Happy 113th birthday to Reita Fennel! - Saskatchewan's oldest resident! Affectionately known as Deat, she celebrated her 113th birthday at Parkland Place in Melfort today. One of her favourite quotes (as shared by her granddaughter) is Count your blessings.

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Minister of Health Paul Merriman and Dr. Shahab provide an update on Modelling for COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.