New data modeling update shows COVID-19 numbers heading in a positive direction

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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New data modeling update shows COVID-19 numbers heading in a positive direction

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) released new data Tuesday showing that Saskatchewan is in a significantly better position to manage COVID-19 as a result of the interventions taken to date to slow the spread of the virus. The province needs to continue on their current path for the success to continue even in light of the upcoming re-opening of Saskatchewan.

“Despite all the good news our province has seen with regards to COVID-19 spread, these plans are critically important. We have to continue to plan for the worst while hoping for the best. As we have seen from other jurisdictions the situation can fluctuate very quickly,” SHA CEO Scott Livingstone said during Tuesday’s press conference.

Livingstone acknowledged the recent death and passed on the condolences of the SHA and also passed on thanks to the province’s health care workers.

The updated numbers shows Saskatchewan’s Basic Reproductive Number for the virus as 3.12. This means the average number of people a single COVID-19 positive person in Saskatchewan would infect, had no interventions been undertaken and everyone was susceptible.

Under revised modelling, SHA’s cumulative tota sits at 254,756 cases. That’s lower than the 335,000 originally modelled earlier this month.

Deaths under the worst-case scenario modelling fell from 6,815 to 3,050. Officials emphasized that modelling provides projections, not predictions.

With the introduction of public health measures in March and April 2020, the Effective Reproductive Number in Saskatchewan is 0.7 as of April 25. This is the average number of people one person with the virus is likely to infect at the current time, after the effects of the interventions have been factored in. This changes daily as behaviours and interventions change.

“The goal is to keep the effective reproductive number less than one and we know at that point this is the tipping point where we will start declining,” Dr. Jenny Basran, Senior Medical Information Officer explained.

“On April 25 our effective reproductive number was 0.7 this is a bit of an indicator that some of the cases that were coming up had been infected up to 13 days ago,” Basran said.

According to Basran, they will monitor the numbers as the Re-open Saskatchewan Plan begins to move forward. But all of the steps we are currently taking need to remain in place.

Basran explained that Saskatchewan is on par with the rest of Canada. The province is also working on modeling to determine numbers from different regions.

The SHA is using the new Saskatchewan-specific Basic Reproductive Number to adjust its planning scenarios, maintaining its commitment to plan for the worst, while aiming for the best. The Effective Reproductive Number will be used to guide decisions specifically about public health measures. This will help the province to make real-time adjustments to relax or tighten public restrictions, as needed, to help prevent a resurgence of COVID-19, while also balancing the need for a very gradual return to normalcy.

The SHA will release the Effective Reproductive Number weekly to help inform the public on the effect of current interventions or relaxed restrictions in Saskatchewan. Analysis going back to early March indicates that the value of this number has been under one since early April.

The SHA also released updated information on the adjustments it is making to its COVID-19 Readiness Plan as a result of this new data.

“Within Saskatchewan we have the highest per capita testing and also the least restrictive testing criteria where testing is available for anyone with symptoms of COVID-19,” Dr. Julie Kryzanowski, Senior Medical Health Officer said.

“We continue to work to scale up availability of testing in place around the province, new strategies for active case finding including testing persons who are identified as contacts through public health contacts and outbreak investigations, providing outreach to populations that are less likely to seek access to testing and sending consistent messages to health care providers who are doing the test.”

Testing sites across the province, including testing on First Nation’s communities, as well as mobilizing new technology which includes GenXpert that provides rapid results.

They are still developing contact tracing, trained staff on new technology that will help streamline after contact investigation that will improve reporting and monitoring. Will strengthen responses to community outbreaks and looking to mobilize surge capacity to respond in real time.

“We do need to work together to continue to stay healthy and strong and ensure that supports and care are available to those who need it,” she said.

They also highlighted the offensive and defensive portions of the SHA’s COVID-19 Health System Readiness Plan. The offensive portion sees maximizing testing capacity, accessibility and speed, including ongoing expansion of rapid testing capability across the province and outreach to populations less likely to seek testing; surging contact tracing to stay ahead of demand, including a plan to meet any scenario up to 618 news cases per day in Saskatchewan, helping prevent spread by restricting staff to work in a single facility; contingency planning to use hotels to cohort COVID-19 positive patients who require intermediate care and continuing to expand virtual care options to provide continuity of service while maintaining physical distancing, wherever possible.

The SHA’s defensive strategy portion of the plan focuses on the readiness of acute care services to meet any potential surge in demand from COVID-19. The defensive adjustments highlighted include a new planning scenario assumptions now estimate needing 1,000 fewer hospital beds, 400 fewer ICU beds and 400 fewer ventilators than previously announced on April 8 and continued preparation for field hospitals in Saskatoon and Regina to enable the SHA to scale up if needed.

The two field hospitals are based on two stages of activation. According to Derek Miller, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Lead stage one has a predefined number of 309 beds to prepare for activation, purchase all of the equipment and then trigger the beds. Beds would become available in a predetermined period of time. Stage two is a contingency capacity to expand services as needed. He explained that in Saskatoon it would go from one ice sheet to two at Merlis Belsher Place and occupying a second part of Evraz Place in Regina. This would make 650 beds potentially available in the two field hospitals.

“The updated modeling information provides good insight into the Saskatchewan-specific situation as well as informing our scenarios that are used for planning. Our offensive strategy continues to support the sustainment of low rates of transmission. But we want to emphasize that the public has the biggest impact on our offensive strategy and success and certainly underpins the success that we have seen to date. Our defensive strategy continues to adapt on the new modeling information and we will be adjusting that and we will ensure that we have our defense ready should we need it in the future,” Miller said.

The SHA and Ministry of Health are also developing a plan to resume, in a staged approach, community services, elective surgeries and diagnostics that were impacted by earlier service slowdowns. This plan will be released in the near future.

The elements of this plan will be activated in phases, with each phase triggered by surveillance data on transmission of the virus in the community.

Identification of which services will resume will consider factors such as highest priority patient needs, risk of transmission of the virus, impact on COVID-19 surge capacity, impact on inventory of personal protective equipment and other factors. Timeline on medical returning will be determined using the data available.

“Going forward there will be ups and downs in our fight against COVID-19,” Saskatchewan Health Authority Chief Medical Officer Dr. Susan Shaw said in the province’s release.

“That is why it is so critical that we be guided by the data and be willing to adapt as we learn more about COVID-19 and how the virus is behaving in the Saskatchewan context. While we support the province’s plan for gradually re-opening the province, it is a critical time to remind Saskatchewan residents that this will be a phased process where we still need our citizens to be vigilant and practice the same precautions that have proven effective to date.”

In the press conference all of the speakers noted that we are in such good shape because we have been practicing proper actions such as frequent hand washing and physical distancing.

-With files from Jordan Sticker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Estevan Mercury.

Death in long term care home in La Loche confirmed by province

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Death in long term care home in La Loche confirmed by province

A fifth Saskatchewan resident has died from COVID-19.

There was a report of a death in a long term care home in La Loche by the CBC on Sunday. The report was confirmed on Monday when the province said a Saskatchewan resident in their 80s from the Far North region died from complications related to COVID-19.

In total, Saskatchewan has 365 cases. Of those, 72 are considered active. A total of 288 people have recovered.

Of the 365 total cases, 139 are travellers, 149 are community contacts or are linked to mass gatherings, 35 have no known exposures and 42 are under investigation by local public health. In total, 69 cases are from the north (which includes Prince Albert) and 46 from the far north. Of the 61 active cases, 42 are from the far north and ten from the north.

During the course of Monday’s press conference Premier Scott Moe, Chief Medical Health Officer Saqib Shahab and Dr. Rim Zayed Northern Medical Health Officer all sent condolences to the community and family in the case.

Moe emphasized how the remainder of the province, except the far north, has continued the trend of flattening the curve.

“There are now 72 cases in Saskatchewan,” he said.

“Most of the regions in Saskatchewan, including Regina and Saskatoon, now have 10 or fewer active cases. However over one half of the known active cases are in one region and that is in our far north and most of those are in and around the northern community of La Loche.”

Shahab explained that the rest of the province remains flat while there is a troubling cluster of cases near La Loche, which is being managed effectively by Public Health and the northern health system supported by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and other partners.

“Most of the cases are accounted for the cluster that initiated through travel from Northern Alberta. This again shows how quickly COVID can transmit, one or two people can initiate two or three cases and that can initiate two or three additional cases, then it is nine and if those nine cases initiate two additional that is 27,” he said.

Zayed explained that of the 29 cases, 26 are related to travel in northern Alberta. Two cases are in long term care.

“Other cases in long term care are negative and we monitor them every day for any change of and we are continuing to support them as much as we can including with strict isolation precautions that are put in place,” she said.

She added that they are trying to set up window visits for family and other forms of visits through technology.

Health care staff in La Loche is monitored every day and if any staff shows symptoms they are not allowed to work and put on self-isolation.

Shahab explained that within two or three weeks there could be 100 cases and in another two weeks there could be 300 cases.

“It is really important for us to observe physical distancing all the time,” Shahab said.

The province is continuing to provide extra action around testing, rapid contact tracing and further advice about staying at home and minimizing any contact with people from outside your household.

On Friday, following consultation with the Mayor of La Loche and other northern leaders, Shahab signed a Public Health Order restricting all non-critical travel into and out of northern Saskatchewan, specifically the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.

Dr. Shahab also issued a strong recommendation against non-essential travel between communities within northern Saskatchewan.

The province is continuing to increase testing and contact tracing in the La Loche area and is working closely with community leaders to ensure everyone who is required to do so is able to self-isolate. Zayed explained that there are nine cases in nearby communities as well as 29 in La Loche itself.

“We continue to work on contract tracing which has been reaching out 70 individuals each day during this investigation. We are also working on expanding testing both in collecting samples and the ability to do the initial lab analysis in La Loche,” she said.

She thanked the staff for their hard work in contact tracing and testing, assessment and treatment of COVID-19 patients.

“I also want to thank the leadership in La Loche and Clearwater River for their assistance in reaching out to the communities as we work to stop the spread of the virus. We continue to look at how we can help patients who are positive or suspected to have COVID-19 self-isolate. We know that self-isolation can be difficult and challenging and we appreciate the support of the First Nation and municipal leaders in this effort. We are committed to work together in this crisis,” Zayed said.

Moe explained that testing supplies and the number of sample that are being sent for testing has also increased and an GeneXpert machine, which allows for rapid testing, has been placed and will be operational in La Loche on May 1.

“The Saskatchewan Health Authority will expand the number of testing sites and mobile testing sites in La Loche and support as well in home testing. Drive through testing will continue in the community of La Loche and they have obtained a list of people that have returned from work camps in Alberta and those individuals are being asked to self-isolate,” Moe said.

The average number of tests performed is around 30 per day, according to Zayed, and testing continues to be ramped up.

“Whenever there is a cluster or an outbreak testing is ramped up to assist in the case contact investigation so anywhere in the province if you have any symptoms that suggest you can and of course should get tested. With an outbreak there is further focus on cases and contacts,” Shahab said.

Zayed explained that the SHA is working through every contact person who shows symptoms.

“With the contract tracing we monitor people every day so there is someone who is doing the contract tracing. We work as a team and another one is working on phoning the family or the person who is under mandatory self-isolation every day,” Zayed said.

When people are getting symptoms or are isolated they are tested with increasing regularity and they are also developing an enhanced strategy for immediate implementation in the community.

“The first component of this strategy includes increasing the volume of testing supplies being sent to the community and the number of lab samples that are transported, the expansion of the number of mobile testing sights will also occur which will support home testing which we are already implementing for people who are not having the ability to attend a testing site. Drive through testing is continuing to work in La Loche centre but we are also supporting that with home testing. We are also developing more plans for that. We will have mobile testing on a daily basis.”

Turn around time on lab results will speed up after the new machine is in place on May 1. There is also a framework based on science and evidence for strategic testing for asymptomatic people.

The Ministry of Health has received questions surrounding the time and process of reporting COVID-19 fatalities. It is important to record and report COVID-19 cases and death in a uniform way, to ensure all jurisdictions have a consistent approach to reporting and that the evolving science can draw from this information. COVID-19 fatalities must be confirmed by the medical health officer to ensure that the case meets the criteria in order to be documented in the epidemiological reporting tools, before they can be publicly reported by the ministry.

“We always have to confirm that the family is informed for example before we announce and there is a little bit of a lag in that. We always have to protect the privacy of individuals even if there is information on social media we have to protect the privacy of individuals as best we can from our side,” Shahab said Monday.

On Sunday, the province reminded people to practice proper behavior as there is a move towards re-opening. Saskatchewan residents must continue to take measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. This includes limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people and practicing physical distancing.

With extreme caution and under the following conditions, one or two close families may form an extended household group: The families or friends must remain consistent. Do not visit different families or friends every day, If you are going to create an extended household group, consider if any member of the group has any chronic health conditions that would put them at greater risk, or if they are in close contact with someone who could be vulnerable.  Gatherings must still follow the public health order and be no more than 10 people, stay home if you are ill and maintain physical distancing where possible the province’s release said.

Shahab and Moe both emphasized that continuing with proper practices is important as the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan begins to move forward. Shahab said it was great to see people outside enjoying the weather on the weekend but reminded people to practice social distancing unless you are in one household.

“While there was a recommendation because our curve overall is flat and we can now very cautiously think of connecting with one or two additional households and make an extended household, we need to be very cautious that it the same one or two people or same one or two families that we connect with and not a random two or three different people every time. Because if we don’t do that our curve overall will not remain flat and we will not be able to continue with our re-opening plan.”

On Sunday the province added individuals should always be aware of who you have been in contact with over the past two weeks. These are the people who would need to be contacted by public health if you were to test positive for COVID-19.

Four new cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan with three in the north on Sunday

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Four new cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan with three in the north on Sunday

Saskatchewan now has a total of 353 cases of COVID-19.

On Sunday, the province saw a rise of another four cases, three out of the four new cases today are in the North and one is in the Regina area

The active case total is 61 of the 353 cases. The active case load went up by four from Saturday’s update.

The province reminded people to practice proper behavior as there is a move towards re-opening. Saskatchewan residents must continue to take measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. This includes limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people and practicing physical distancing.

With extreme caution and under the following conditions, one or two close families may form an extended household group: The families or friends must remain consistent. Do not visit different families or friends every day, If you are going to create an extended household group, consider if any member of the group has any chronic health conditions that would put them at greater risk, or if they are in close contact with someone who could be vulnerable. Gatherings must still follow the public health order and be no more than 10 people, stay home if you are ill and maintain physical distancing where possible the province’s release said.

The province added individuals should always be aware of who you have been in contact with over the past two weeks. These are the people who would need to be contacted by public health if you were to test positive for COVID-19.

On Friday following consultation with the Mayor of La Loche and other northern leaders, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab signed a Public Health Order restricting all non-critical travel into and out of northern Saskatchewan, specifically the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.

Dr. Shahab also issued a strong recommendation against non-essential travel between communities within northern Saskatchewan.

The province is continuing to increase testing and contact tracing in the La Loche area and is working closely with community leaders to ensure everyone who is required to do so is able to self-isolate.

There were no additional recoveries reported and that total remains at 288.

While 38 of the cases are health care workers, however, the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.

Of the 353 cases in the province, 138 cases are travellers which remains the same as yesterday’s update, 148 are community contacts which includes mass gatherings which is an increase of two over yesterday, 35 have no known exposures and 32 are under investigation by local public health, both of those totals increased by one over yesterday. There are currently five people in hospital in the province, an increase of one over yesterday. Two are in intensive care and three are in inpatient care, locations of hospitalizations were not included in government information.

Prince Albert’s region, the north, reports 68 cases an increase of three over yesterday, 150 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area which remains the same total as yesterday, 74 are from the Regina area, the remaining numbers are the same as yesterday’s update with 15 are from the south, 11 are from the central region and 35 are from the far north.

The age breakdown shows 29 cases in the 19 years of age and under while the rest are adults. The 20-39-year-old age range has 126 cases an increase of one from yesterday, 120 cases are in the 40-59-year-old age range (an increase of two) and 67 cases are in the 60-79-year-old age range, which is an increase of one and 11 are in the 80-year-old and over range ; the gender breakdown remains 51 per cent of the cases being males and 49 per cent being females.

There have been no additional deaths reported as of Sunday and the provincial total remains at four. To date, 27,884 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of April 22 when other provincial and national numbers are available from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 20,864 people tested per million population and exceeds the national rate of 16,497 people tested per million population.

Far north now accounts for more than half Sask. COVID-19 cases

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Far north now accounts for more than half Sask. COVID-19 cases

Saskatchewan now has a total of 349 cases of COVID-19.

On Saturday, the province saw a rise of another eight cases, seven of the eight new cases are in the far north.

The active case total is 57. More than half (32) of the active cases are from the far north.There was a decrease in active cases in the north over the past day from seven to six. The north region includes Prince Albert.

On Friday following consultation with the Mayor of La Loche and other northern leaders, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer  Dr.  Saqib Shahab signed a Public Health Order restricting all non-critical travel into and out of northern Saskatchewan, specifically the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.

Dr. Shahab also issued a strong recommendation against non-essential travel between communities within northern Saskatchewan.

The province is continuing to increase testing and contact tracing in the La Loche area and is working closely with community leaders to ensure everyone who is required to do so is able to self-isolate.

There have also been eight  more recoveries in the past day, bringing that total to 288.

Of the 349 cases in the province  138  cases are travelers, 146 are community contacts which includes mass gatherings, 34 have no known exposures and 31 are under investigation by local public health. There are currently four people in hospital in the province.  Two are in intensive care and two are in inpatient care, locations of hospitalizations were not included in government information.

The north reports 65 total cases, 150 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area, 73 are from the Regina area, 15 are from the south, 11 are from the central region and 35 are from the far north.

The age breakdown shows 29 cases in the 19 years of age and under while the rest are adults. The 20-39-year-old age range has 125 cases, 118 cases are in the 40-59-year-old age range and 66 cases are in the 60-79-year-old age range and 11 are in the 80-year-old and over range ; 51 per cent of the cases are males and 49 per cent are females.

There have been no additional deaths reported as of Saturday and the provincial total remains at four. To date, 27,232 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.  As of April 22 when other provincial and national numbers are available from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 20,864 people tested per million population and exceeds the national rate of 16,497 people tested per million population.

First week of new learning reality a success at St. Mary High School

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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First week of new learning reality a success at St. Mary High School

Students in the Prince Albert Roman Catholic School Division officially returned to learning in a new way beginning on Monday, April 20 and according to St. Mary High School Principal Mark Phaneuf getting engaged with the school community again was a great thing.

“Just because we are physically distanced in this situation doesn’t mean any of us want to be socially distanced. We all got into this profession to be with people and engage with people as we do our part with physical distancing. I think it was just very good for everyone to get together again even in this different way,” Phaneuf said.

Phaneuf explained that the first week went off without a hitch and students were ready to engage in learning. There were a majority of students who were registered ready to go when the day would normally start at 9 a.m.

“It was nice to see it start off with very few problems whatsoever.”

Phaneuf did not have an exact number of engaged students because the situation remains relatively fluid.

“There may be some kids that aren’t engaged right now but can engage in the next week or two due to maybe relocation or maybe the kids or maybe family members are sick or they had to take on more employment. There is really a myriad of reasons why kids are engaging at different points along the continuum. We did have a real nice number of kids involved,” Phaneuf said.

The division began contacting students before the Easter Break but Phaneuf believes the entire planning process helped teachers and students to look at things differently.

“Even moving forward within the next short little while here we are going to be doing online registration for our school division which means we will be able to schedule and all of those kinds of things. So people are able to engage online whether it be through the school or through registration,” he said.

Phaneuf said every school in the division will have their information for online registration on the division’s website at a later date.

“We want to be able to support those students in that way. We look to support students that need to be engaged in a different manner,” Phaneuf said.

Phaneuf believes that education is about connecting with people not disconnecting.

“The relationships are what we build throughout the school day in a normal school day, or what we would previously call a school day — and we are just finding it very nice to continue to build these relationships and have some at a bit of a distance at this point physically,” Phaneuf said.

Ecole Arthur Pechey salutes students with Friday parade

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Ecole Arthur Pechey salutes students with Friday parade

On Friday afternoon students at École Arthur Pechey Public School located in Prince Albert’s South Hill found a way to communicate how much they missed their teachers.

While school is closed and learning is taking place at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff paraded around the school neighbourhood to wave hello to their students.

Principal Brandi Sparboe explained that it was an opportunity to see students again. Those who participated were also encouraged to practice safe social distancing.

  • Teachers and staff waved at students and families as the parade wound its way through neighbourhoods around Arthur Pechey.
  • The parade continued throughout the school’s surrounding neighbourhoods through Friday afternoon.
  • Students and families lined the rst street of the Ecole Arthur Pechey Parade on Friday, April 24.

“We missed their smiling faces and we hope they get a kick out of it too. I have two kids at home that are missing school. They thought it was a real holiday at first and now they are just getting to that point of missing school. If the kids get a kick out of it and it reminds them that we are thinking of them and that they belong to a community outside of their house and that we are there for them and they can reach out,” Sparboe said.

The parade was the brainchild of the school’s social worker Aryn Peterson and it was part of the school’s focus with the challenges offered by the pandemic. Students and parents lined 26th Street West to greet the parade as it began. The lineup of vehicles stretched for a few blocks and each vehicle was decorated in Arthur Pechey colours and showed Arthur Pechey Eagles pride.

“I think that the message in our school and what is pulling us through this is that there is nothing more important than connection, that is our number one focus and just reminding ourselves of that daily. That’s my message to the staff and to the families,” she said.

Through the staff’s numerous video meetings the idea that they were missing the student’s faces came up several times. That was the springboard for Peterson’s concept.

“She has seen a school in another community somewhere do this and thought ‘gosh that is something that we should do,’” Sparboe said.

Teachers and staff waved at students and families as the parade wound its way through neighbourhoods around Arthur Pechey.

“It started really small and we were just going to do this one neighbourhood that some of the kids she was connected to had said that they missed her. Then she invited staff and everyone wanted to be a part of it.”

The concept grew to such an extent that it had to become a parade. They then created a map to pass as many families as they could.

“Unfortunately the downside is we can’t hit every street that we have families on. Being a French Immersion school we have community in quite a broad area in and around Prince Albert. She thought of that so she invited them to come park by the school so that we could see as many as possible,”

Sparboe explained that doing the parade on a Friday was a good way to round out another week of learning at home.

The parade continued throughout the school’s surrounding neighbourhoods through Friday afternoon.

“Every family is going through something different right now and needs something different and we don’t want people putting that academic pressure on themselves we want them focusing on their mental and emotional well-being. I think this is a really good way to support that too,” Sparboe said.

STF aware of challenges in education delivery via technology

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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The Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation (STF)is hearing from membership about the difficulties with education technology delivery in the wake of schools closing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

STF president Patrick Maze said that some teachers are having this problem.

Maze noted that the responsibility lies with the government in their role as funders of school divisions to help address this.

“I think it is incumbent on government through the school divisions to identify where those gaps are and where we need to provide a little better for students in order to allow them to continue learning,” he said.

“It is the school divisions that are best placed to know where those gaps are since they are the ones that work directly with the families and the students. But at the same point they also require some funding and support from government to be able to do that. It is a partnership and everybody needs to do their part,” Maze said.

In a news conference on Tuesday morning opposition NDP Education Critic Carla Beck addressed these concerns. Beck addressed gaps that might exist either due to socioeconomic or urban and rural issues around technology. Students may not have access to internet in rural and remote communities or have access to devices. Beck would like to know the numbers of students affected.

Locally, Saskatchewan Rivers School Division director of education Robert Bratvold explained that the division was aware that challenges would exist in reaching students and families through online platforms.

He explained that a significant portion of it is related to socioeconomic status but a large part of the division is rural and has challenges with bandwidth and reliability of service for online delivery.

Maze explained that there is also situations where teachers are coming into cities or other major centres.

“ (It is) because they are out in the country and they have difficulty accessing WiFi as well and have to call their rural internet provider and try to get up to speed quickly so they could continue providing for students,” Maze added.

Bratvold explained that addressing challenges is the responsibility of the divisions.

The ministry is aware that some divisions have entered into partnership agreements in order to be able to provide devices to students in order to supplement online learning.

The Ministry added that individual divisions will determine what supplemental learning opportunities may be used to meet the needs of students in their division.

According to the Ministry of Education The Response Planning Team continues to be in regular communication with school divisions in order to support divisions as they provide learning opportunities to their students.

In a separate interview Maze noted that the work of the Response Planning Team has been beneficial in building relationships between government and the Federation.

It was put in place to ensure students continue to have supplementary learning through distance opportunities and take-home resource kits; as well as logistics to ensure backroom functions such as staff assignments and payroll.

-with files from Peter Lozinski

Tentative agreement between province and teachers excludes class composition

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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A tentative agreement has been reached between the Teachers’ bargaining Committee and the provincial government.

The news was announced late Wednesday.

With the numerous changes to the environment because of the COVID-19 pandemic Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation president Patrick Maze there was a renewed need to find a resolution.

“Teachers are incredibly stressed as they work to get their lesson online and reach out to students and they have been doing a great job of that. But it is stressful and having an open contract at this time is just an additional stresser,” Maze said.

Next steps include the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation taking it to its 13,000 teacher members to vote on the new contract.

“This tentative agreement balances our respect and appreciation for teachers with the fiscal realities of the province,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant said

The members voted on the bargaining proposals a year ago and to conduct sanctions in March. “Since those two votes occurred so much has changed that we believe that it was important to get back to members and make sure that we are on the same page,” Maze explained.

Classroom composition remains a contentious issue. One teacher in Prince Albert has already stated on social media that he will not be voting to ratify because of the exclusion of the issue.

“That is how bad the situation is in our classrooms that teachers were willing to withdraw services and overwhelmingly agree to a sanctions vote and were overwhelmingly in support of sanctions. So it’s a critical issue, government admits it’s a problem and government is basically now tasked with listening to recommendations that come from this committee and making sure that they act on them. If they don’t then there will be no surprise when it appears as a proposal in our very next set of negotiations,” Maze explained.

Maze stated that the government was committed to negotiating a contract but it is up to them to get the issue of classroom composition correct.

“This provides some security for teachers and gives potentially a path forward with class composition,” Maze said.

“It doesn’t specifically address class composition which was one of the biggest items that teachers did put in our proposal package. Instead we are hoping that class composition can be dealt with away from the bargaining table by the class composition committee that is restructured and revised and has a better voice from teachers.”

The Federation remains committed to solving class size and composition through ongoing advocacy and participation on a new class complexity committee.

The deans of education from the universities of Saskatchewan and Regina will join. Maze said the committee will have better representation and give teachers more voice.

“Given the good work that the provincial Response Team to the pandemic has had, the good work that they have done, we are given better hope to a committee to find some resolution to class composition,” Maze explained.

Maze said the committee is not perfect but membership will determine if it meets their needs through their vote in the ratification process.

A strong majority — 92 per cent of STF members — voted in favour of teacher sanctions. Maze said the union will be watching the class composition issue closely, and the government both knows and has admitted it’s a problem.

“We will be paying very close attention and expecting some tangible results coming out of this committee,” Maze said.

Teachers are expected to vote on the tentative agreement within the next four to six weeks. The Federation is finalizing details on how the vote will be conducted in a manner that ensures members’ health and safety in light of COVID-19 while also ensuring a rigorous process that is transparent and accountable. Details will be provided in the coming weeks.

If ratified, the new agreement would be effective from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2023. The proposed agreement includes: salary increases of zero percent in 2019, two percent in 2020, two percent in 2021 and two percent in 2022, increases to allowances for principals, vice-principals and assistant principals of zero percent in 2019, two percent in 2020, two percent in 2021 and two percent in 2022 and at the beginning of each school year, all school boards will provide the STF with contact information of all approved substitute teachers. Any changes are to be reported to the STF monthly.

“The terms of our offer mean that Saskatchewan teachers will have stability for years to come and be paid at five per cent above the Western Canadian Average.” Wyant said.

Challenges exist in delivery of new education models: NDP

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Challenges exist in delivery of new education models: NDP

In a news conference on Tuesday morning opposition NDP Education Critic Carla Beck addressed concerns around delivery of education technology in the wake of schools closing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beck addressed gaps that might exist either due to socioecenomic or urban and rural issue around technology. Students may not have access to internet in rural and remote communities or have access to devices. Beck would like to know the numbers of students affected by this.

“We know that teachers, before the Easter break, spent time checking in on their students. How many students it is that indicated that they don’t have access and how many students we weren’t able to connect to — I think that is the first piece we need in coordination from the Province,” Beck said.

Locally, Saskatchewan Rivers School Division director of education Robert Bratvold explained that the division was aware that challenges would exist in reaching students and families through online platforms.

“We knew that was going to be a large portion of our students would be able to experience their learning in that way but a significant portion wouldn’t,” he said.

“We knew that from the beginning. That is not a surprise but it is a challenge.”

He explained that a significant portion of it is related to socioeconomic status but a large part of the division is rural and has challenges with bandwidth and reliability of service for online delivery.

“Staff and students in Christopher Lake struggle with reliable internet connection and even cell phone is spotty. If you don’t have good WiFi in your house sometimes you can tether your phone if you have got some kind of data package but even that is a challenge,” he said.

Bratvold explained that the division has done some work delivering hard copy materials.

The ministry is aware that some divisions have entered into partnership agreements in order to be able to provide devices to students in order to supplement online learning.

The Ministry added that individual divisions will determine what supplemental learning opportunities may be used to meet the needs of students in their division.

According to the Ministry of Education, The Response Planning Team continues to be in regular communication with school divisions in order to support divisions as they provide learning opportunities to their students.

The Response Planning Team began work on Monday, March 17 and consists of individuals from the Ministry of Education, Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation, Saskatchewan School Boards Association, the Saskatchewan Association of School Business Officials and the Saskatchewan League of Educationl Administrators, Directors and Superintendents.

It was put in place to to ensure students continue to have supplementary learning through distance opportunities and take-home resource kits; as well as logistics to ensure backroom functions such as staff assignments and payroll.

They added that School divisions are responsible for developing supplemental learning plans to provide alternative instructional learning opportunities to students and for developing communication plans for students and families to inform them about those opportunities.

Beck noted that divisions are doing an excellent using their resources to ensure technology is in the hands of students. She noted that different divisions have different assets at their disposal. The Saskatoon Teachers Association and SaskTel partnered for delivery. As well some divisions are providing every Grade 10 to 12 student with Chromebooks. She explained that other divisions may not have that capacity to lend out.

“I have heard concerns from other division that they are worried about what will happen if they are audited if they are giving our devices and those devices don’t come back in September, what that means for their assets. There could be assurances that the province puts in place around those audits,” Beck said.

She gave a local example of the wide variance that exists with one discussion with a Prince Albert teacher.

“I know I was talking to a teacher yesterday that was indicating that the number was more like four out of 25 in a class and it varies within divisions and in between divisions,” Beck said.

Bratvold gave an example of the program that Beck mentioned in Saskatoon as a positive.

“There are some things that can be done but that doesn’t work in all circumstances either. It is also of no use if you don’t have reliable cell phone connections,” he explained.

Another concept Beck put forward was collection of donated devices and having expertise to wipe data and make the devices ready for students. She added that it can be done voluntarily but the province can augment it.

“I guess that the major thing that we are asking for is that the Ministry provides more oversight to make sure there isn’t a huge gap within divisions in those students who have access to technology and those who don’t and also that there isn’t a huge gap between divisions in the province. And I think that is the role we would like to see the provincial government play,” Beck said.

Bratvold explained that addressing challenges is responsibility of the divisions.

“The delivery of education is in the hands of local school boards after they hire. I think provincially if they get SaskTel and maybe the provincial government can do some things to increase the capacity and obviously you don’t have those spotty internet connections,” Bratvold said.

Beck explained that students have been out of school a month and the divisions have done an admirable job but a gap still exists.

“I think that is a role for the provincial government to be coordinating with divisions for where they still have gaps. Be that with accessing donated access laptops from the ministries, from Central Services or using our Crown Corporations to help to insure those students who perhaps don’t have a digital plan at home have access to one free of cost so that they can continue in their learning and again connect with their teachers and their peers which plays an academic role which is very important and it also plays a social and a mental health role during this pandemic,” Beck said.

Also on the call was Shannon, a mother from Saskatoon with some challenges in her home because of special needs and only a single cell phone to facilitate learning.

“Ideally I would like if there was some sort of a grant that would allow for a device that we could take advantage of and get everybody caught up.” she said.

Bratvold explained that there has been discussions about developing supplemental learning models for various grade levels. But he believes that the divisions have the expertise.

“It is just a matter of making that transition and not overwhelming ourselves and saying that I have to be able to do what I did last month with my Grade 3 classroom tomorrow with my 20 kids spread across the division,” Bratvold said.

“When they ask what the province can do more of I think it is continue to support school divisions in delivering those programs, providing clarity about what is expected in terms of messaging and clarity with requirements around medical and health precautions to be taken,” he added.

He explained that the province funds the school divisions but each school division knows their situations. He added that the province has behaved admirably to sustain funding during the pandemic and make sure staff continue employment.

“We are finding really meaningful ways to engage students and families. It has been good — the province has done that and continues to support school divisions and issues. If any more challenges come up, continued support is a good thing,” Bratvold said.

According to the Ministry school divisions may opt to use variety of modes of delivering instruction to students. Delivery modes may include everything from paper to phone calls to sophisticated online environments. School and school division staff are in the best position to understand their local context, the interest and capacity of their students and families.

Bratvold also wants to be sure that expectations are managed when it comes to delivering education in this new world.

“Ensuring that students and parents and families and teachers know that as a province we are going to keep working hard so that kids have opportunities to learn. But please don’t expect to recreate what your child experiences every day in school in your own home. Teachers can’t expect to do that, parents can’t expect to do that,” he said.

Bratvold added that managing expectations also means keeping support for learning, curiosity and exploration high but not so high that mental health is affected.

Lorel Trumier of the Prince Albert Catholic School Division was not available for comment as of press time.

-with files from Peter Lozinski

Saskatchewan on the right track: Shahab

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Saskatchewan on the right track: Shahab

The province is in good shape as far as attening the curve in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That was the message from Chief Medical Health O ce Saqib Shahab in the province’s daily press conference.

“In terms of the numbers it is really important to recognize through all of our efforts our curve remains at and our Reproductive Rate or RP has been low for two weeks or more. So that really means that we are managing to keep the curve at and it is trending downward so that is very reassuring,” Shahab said.

The province of Saskatchewan added one new case of COVID-19 on Monday, April 20 bringing the total to 316 cases reported. Each case has been con rmed. On Sunday the province reported two new cases and Saturday there six cases added to the provincial total, some, though, were from Fri- day’s news of an outbreak in La Loche. case. On Sunday one of the new cases is in the Saskatoon area. e other was in the far north. ere is still one pre- sumptive COVID-19 case that has yet to be con rmed.

“While that is reassuring, it still means that we have to continue doing everything we have been doing. And especially, it has been more than a month since we have been practicing physical distancing, we are diligently staying a home unless it is to go out

shopping and doing other things outdoors in a very considerate way,” Shahab said.

With the weather improving Shahab wants people to be able to enjoy weather in a responsible way as spring and summer arrive.

“But it is important to just remem- ber that as you are out and about maintain some of those key measures that have served us so well. So that means maintaining a distance of at least two meters while out and about and if you do meet friends, neighbours while out certainly agree to have a chat but maintain that two plus meter distance,” he said.

He also reminded people to avoid children mixing and playing games that involve handing objects back and forth.

“That could be very important, keeping children away from group settings,” he said.

He also reminded people to be careful in shared purposes like a crosswalk to keep social distancing and be cautious touching signal buttons. As well, you should avoid playground structures that are sealed off in cities and towns.

“In many cities the playground structures are still taped off so please respect that,” he said.

Researchers are still learning how the virus spreads in different conditions.

“Until such time as there is better information about outdoor play structures while you are out and about please do keep your children off structures that have been taped off,” he explained.

Shahab said with these rules people can enjoy the improving weather in upcoming weeks. This will help to keep the curve in similar condition as it has been the past couple of weeks.

There was recently some discussion about grocery stores being a place where the virus spreads. He reminded people practice the rules for grocery shopping.

“We all have a role in this so obviously from what I have heard grocery stores and business owners have been doing as much work as they can to maintain physical distancing. They have set up tape on the floor and other signals that you have to stand two meters apart and in some cases the aisles are one way, in some cases only one person is allowed to go in not a whole family. I think we need to as customers respect that and also do our part when we also avoid that distancing,” Shahab explained.

At present 74 of the 316 reported cases are considered active.

There have been four more recoveries bringing that total to 238.

Four people remain in hospital with three in inpatient care and one in intensive care

Of the 316 cases in the province: 134 cases are travel related,132 are contacts or linked to mass gatherings, 30 have no known exposures; and 20 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan 35 of the cases are health care workers. However, the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.

The area breakdown shows 60 from the north including Prince Albert, 149 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area, 70 from the Regina area, 15 from the south, 11 from the central region and 11 from the far north.

Age breakdowns show 24 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults. There are114 cases are in the 20-39 age range, 106 are in the 40 to 59 age range, 63 are in the 60-79 age range and nine are in the 80-plus range.

Gender breakdowns show 52 per cent of the cases are males and 48 per cent are females.

There remains Four deaths related to COVID-19 that have been reported to date.

To date 24,412 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.

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