Western Standard - Saskatchewan to bring in vaccine passports

The time for patience is now over. The choice to not get vaccinated is not just affecting you, it is now seriously impacting those who did do the right thing and those who cannot get vaccinated. And it is prolonging the pandemic for everyone.

00:00:00.000 Hello Saskatchewan. For the past several months you have heard me repeat a very simple message

00:00:12.060 over and over. Get vaccinated. And the vast majority of Saskatchewan people have done their

00:00:18.800 part. Unfortunately today we are faced with a fourth wave resulting in increased case numbers

00:00:24.040 and a significant capacity pressure in our health care system which is close to exceeding what we

00:00:29.640 have faced before. But unlike previous waves this wave of the pandemic is being driven almost entirely

00:00:35.940 by one group that consists of about 20 to 30 percent of our population. Those that have made

00:00:41.420 the choice to remain unvaccinated. New cases are overwhelmingly in unvaccinated people.

00:00:48.120 Hospitalizations are overwhelmingly unvaccinated people. The evidence from the data that we have

00:00:54.320 seen is quite clear. As a province and as a government we have been very patient. Possibly

00:01:01.820 too patient. The time for patience is now over. The choice to not get vaccinated is not just affecting

00:01:08.720 you. It is now seriously impacting those who did do the right thing. And it is now seriously impacting

00:01:16.200 those who cannot get vaccinated our children. And it is prolonging the pandemic for everyone. The choice 0.98

00:01:24.040 to not get vaccinated is creating consequences for others. And I would say very soon it is going to

00:01:29.240 create consequences for those who have made the decision to remain unvaccinated. Later today along

00:01:35.240 with Dr. Shahab I will be announcing further measures targeted at reducing the pressure on our health care

00:01:40.760 system. Targeted at increasing our vaccination rates. And making it less comfortable to remain

00:01:47.160 unvaccinated in Saskatchewan. Effective September the 17th we will be introducing an interim mandatory

00:01:53.640 masking order. It will be applicable in all public indoor spaces. The order is targeted to be lifted in

00:02:00.360 late October at which time a full proof of vaccination will be or negative test policy will have been

00:02:06.120 implemented for about three to four weeks. The proof of vaccination or negative test policy will come

00:02:11.720 into effect October the 1st. And it will apply to several businesses establishments and event venues

00:02:18.280 while excluding several services that are necessary for every citizen in the province to access.

00:02:23.960 We'll be releasing a full list later today. We'll also be announcing that all employees of the

00:02:28.760 government of Saskatchewan ministries crowns and agencies will be required to get vaccinated.

00:02:35.000 With proof of full vaccination required by October the 1st employees will be required to provide

00:02:41.720 consistent proof of negative test if they are unable to provide their proof of vaccination.

00:02:46.760 These aren't measures that we have wanted to implement and as a government we have been patient

00:02:51.000 in providing the opportunity and the access to get vaccinated. But that patience has now come to an end.

00:02:57.240 The vast majority of Saskatchewan people have done the right thing and they are growing tired of the

00:03:02.920 the reckless decision of the unvaccinated that is now driving our fourth wave. And Saskatchewan 1.00

00:03:08.600 won't wait for you as we continue to move forward.

Western Standard - September 16, 2021

Saskatchewan to bring in vaccine passports

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