The Canadian Medical Association calls again on Saskatchewan to adopt tough public measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Officer of Health cried on Wednesday when he released COVID-19 modeling that showed hospitalizations would continue to rise until December unless restrictions such as downsizing of gatherings were made reintroduced.

Dr Katharine Smart, president of the national association, said the modeling was both “alarming and heartbreaking”.

She says Saskatchewan residents need support as communities continue to face COVID-19 and healthcare workers provide care in extreme conditions.

Smart says the province needs to increase vaccination rates through mandatory vaccination at health facilities, put a circuit breaker in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and seek help from other jurisdictions.

Saskatchewan continues to have the highest weekly death rate among provinces and has started transferring patients to Ontario as hospitals run out of beds and staff.

“We have gone too far for too long to allow this situation to continue,” Smart said in a statement. “As we have said before, now is the time to act courageously and focus on collaboration.

“The people of Saskatchewan deserve better.

The province said three more patients would be transferred to Ontario from Friday to Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 21, 2021