A collision between school bus and a semi truck this morning near Delisle resulted in both drivers being taken to hospital.

RCMP say that the morning of Sept. 13, the bus, which had no children on it, collided with a semi on Highway 7 westbound, at the intersection of Durham Road.

Westbound traffic was being re-routed around the collision via Avondale Road.

There was no update available on the condition of either of the drivers.

An RCMP traffic reconstructionist is assisting Delisle RCMP with the investigation.

A two-vehicle collision near Snowden that closed Highway 55 for 10 hours included a semi-truck and a van.

Nipawin RCMP were called on Friday, Sept. 10 at about 11:45 am to the scene.

There, they determined that a semi-truck and a van collided with the male driver of the van taken to hospital with serious injuries via STARS air ambulance.

There was no update on his condition as of press time.

The driver and passenger of the semi were not seriously injured.

The highway was closed for most of the day during the initial investigation.

Officers from Nipawin and an RCMP traffic reconstructionist continue to investigate.

A 25-year-old man from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation was declared dead at the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Sept. 11.

Prince Albert RCMP were called to the scene on Highway 3 near Crutwelll on Saturday at about 4:50 pm.

Investigators determined a car and truck towing a boat on a trailer collided, killing the man in the car. His family has been notified of his passing.

The man driving the truck was taken to hospital with serious injuries and two youth passengers in the truck were not injured.  

On September 11, 2021 at approximately 4:50 p.m., Prince Albert RCMP were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision on Highway #3 near Crutwell, SK.

Highway #3 was closed for approximately seven hours during the initial investigation. Prince Albert RCMP and a Saskatchewan RCMP traffic reconstructionist continue to investigate.

Paramedics for Parkland Ambulance had a busy weekend with 120 calls in the time between 1900 hours on Friday and noon on Sunday.

Up until noon on September 12, the service says it responded to several major incidents, with three on Sept. 11.

At 1300 on Saturday, paramedics went to the Lakeland area to help a 70-year-old male who injured his hand using a hydraulic log splitter.

Paramedics care his significant injuries and he remains in stable condition at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

At 1700 the same day, paramedics responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway #3 near Cruttwell.

They treated a 67-year-old male, an 11-year-old male and a 10-year-old male for injuries and took them to local hospital in good and stable condition.

Also on Saturday, Sept 11 at 2130, paramedics responded to the Shellbrook area for a 41 year old man with serious injuries from a farming incident.

Paramedics cared for the man who remains in good and stable condition in Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

On Friday, Sept 10 at 1705, Paramedics responded to the 200 block of 32^nd Street west for a seven-year-old child struck by a vehicle. Paramedics report that there were no injuries in this incident.

Today, another 65 cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in the North Central zone, an increase of 18 from the previous day’s reporting.

That means there are now 648 active cases in the region, given some people have recovered, but 40 people remain in hospital, with six of those in ICU.

No new deaths were reported in North Central but three new deaths in the province were recorded.

There were 348 tests performed and 163 new doses of vaccine given out, a reduction of 105 from the previous day.

So far, 100,700 vaccines have been given out and 47,007 people are fully vaccinated.

Provincially, as of Sept. 12, 198 people are in the hospital with 45 of those in ICU. Of the 198 patients, 77.8 per cent were not fully vaccinated.

A total of 420 new cases were reported in the province today, bringing the total to 58,715 reported cases.

There were seven cases in the Far North West, 28 in the Far North East, 46 in the North West and 26 in the North East.

Further south, Saskatoon had 146 new cases, Central West had 14, Central East had 17, Regina saw 24 new cases, the South West had nine, South Central had seven and South East had 13.

Of the new cases, 18 have pending residence information.

Of the 58,715 cases so far:

– 14,210 cases are from the Saskatoon area

-13,759 cases are from the North area (5,738 North West, 5,922 North Central, 2,099 North East)

-12,702 cases are from the Regina area

-7,249 cases are from the Far North area (3,429 Far North West, 512 Far North Central, 3,308 Far North East)

-6,659 cases are from the South area (1,353 South West, 2,113 South Central, 3,193 South East)

-3,784 cases are from the Central area (1046 Central West, 2,738 Central East)

-352 cases have pending residence information

There are 3,744 active cases in the province and 54,350 cases have recovered.

Over one-third of the new cases are people in their 20s and 30s and 16.7 per cent of new cases was in a fully vaccinate person.

So far, 621 Saskatchewan residents with COVID-19 have died with a case fatality rate of 1.1 per cent and 1,062,940 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.

As of September 9, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers are available from PHAC, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 891,625 tests performed per million population.

The national rate was 1,087,342 tests performed per million population

The 7-day average of new COVID-19 case numbers was 369 (30.6 new cases per 100,000).

There were a minimum of five positive cases of COVID-19 in the first week of school for the Catholic School Division.

Officials from the Saskatchewan Health Authority identified 5 positive COVID-19 cases in individuals at three schools on September 11 (École St. Mary High School, St. John Community School, and St. Catherine Catholic School) and earlier this week at École Holy Cross.

The Prince Albert Catholic School division confirmed the cases in a news release on Sept. 12 and said the cases are likely not due to transmission in the schools due to the recent start of the year.

“With the rise in cases and state of vaccination rates, Prince Albert Catholic Schools will remain committed to informing the school community and broader community regarding positive COVID cases and exposures in our schools,” said the Division.

Each classroom and the cohorts of the infected people has been notified of the exposure.

According to changes in the Saskatchewan Public Health order on Friday, Sept. 10, all positive cases and those they have exposed are now required to isolate for 10 days unless they are fully vaccinated.

Vaccinated people are advised to watch for symptoms of break through infection and seek testing if they notice anything.

For schools, the division will continue to operate in-person classes using the same safety protocols, such as mandatory masking.

Additionally, the students and families will be receiving updates using the Edsby platform.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with these school community members, and we hope they are doing well,” said the division in the release. “We all have a shared responsibility to decrease the risk of COVID-19 entering schools.”

Families are asked to consider all the layers of protection such as performing daily health screening, staying home if ill, calling Health Line 811 if exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, practicing proper hand hygiene, maintaining physical distancing, and wearing a mask when appropriate.

Vaccination clinic dates and times are available in the community via pharmacies and pop-up clinics.

Drive-thru testing is available at the Cone Shop (9th St and 6th Ave E Prince Albert), open seven days a week –8:30 am –4 pm. If you are not able to use the drive-thru testing site, call 811 for other testing options.

We also strongly urge everyone to continue to follow all Public Health advisements, orders and protocols.

Not as many new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the North Central region on Sept. 11 as the previous several days, but 47 cases were still added to make the active load 632 cases. There were 41 people in the hospital, a reduction of two from the day before.

No new deaths were reported in the region, but provincially, one more person died.

Also reported for Sept. 11 were 240 daily new tests and 268 additional doses of vaccine, with less than one-half of those second doses, meaning that first doses are increasing.

So far, 100,537 doses have been administered at 46,928 people are fully vaccinated.

Provincially, there were 341 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 58,293 reported cases.

The new cases are located in the Far North West (25), Far North Central (1), Far North East (29), North West (43), North Central (47), North East (17), Saskatoon (78), Central West (11), Central East (15), Regina (22), South West (5), South Central (7) and South East (18) zones and 23 new cases have pending residence information

Twenty-two (22) cases with pending location were assigned to the Far North Central (from Sept 9 (1)), Far North East (from Sept 8 (2), Sept 9 (5)), North West (from Sept 7(1)), North Central (from Sept 7 (5), Sept 8 (1), Sept 9 (3)), North East (from Sept 9 (2)), Central West (from Sept 9 (1)), and Regina (from Sept 8 (1)) zones and in total 58,293 cases are confirmed.

Of those, 14,060 cases are from the Saskatoon area with the North remaining in second position with 13,617 cases (5,689 North West, 5,856 North Central, 2,072 North East)

Further south,12,676 cases are from the Regina area while 7,212 cases are from the Far North area (3,420 Far North West, 512 Far North Central, 3,280 Far North East).

Outside of the capital city, 6,630 cases are from the South area (1,344 South West, 2,106 South Central, 3,180 South East) and 3,751 cases are from the Central area (1030 Central West, 2,721 Central East).

The province is also working on confirming residency information on 347 cases.

As of Sept, 11, 3,588 cases are considered active and 54,087 cases are considered recovered.

Over one-third (36.1 per cent) of new cases are in the 19 years and under age category and only one in ten (12.3 per) new cases was fully vaccinated.

As of September 11th, a total of 198 individuals are hospitalized; including 155 inpatient hospitalizations and 43 ICU hospitalizations. Of the 198 patients, 153 (77.3 per cent) were not fully vaccinated.

One (1) new death reported today means 618 Saskatchewan residents with COVID-19 have died with a case fatality rate of 1.1 per cent.

1,059,570 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.

As of September 9, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers are available from PHAC, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 891,625 tests performed per million. The national rate was 1,087,342 tests performed per million.

The 7-day average of new COVID-19 case numbers was 364 (30.2 new cases per 100,000).

A vice chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is apologizing after attending an event while positive for COVID-19.

First Vice-Chief Morley Watson said he attended the Muskowekwan Sports Day on Sept. 5 assuming he had tested negative for a COVID test.

“On the morning of Monday, September 6, 2021, I was informed by Saskatchewan Health Authority that I tested positive for Covid-19. Upon receipt of this news, I immediately started contacting the individuals and organizations with whom I had recent close contact,” said Watson. “Earlier in the week, I attended two First Nation Celebrations, after which I experienced mild cold-like symptom.”

After experiencing the mild cold-like symptoms, Watson had himself tested for COVID on Sept. 3 and was told that positive results are communicated quickly.

After three days with no results, he assumed the test was negative and went to the Sports Day on Sept. 5 for “a brief time early that afternoon.”

The next day he was informed he was positive.

“Please be assured it was never my intention to risk harming anyone, and to those who were close contacts of mine during this past week,” said Watson. “I apologize for this potential exposure.”

Anyone who may have been in close contact with Watson during that time is asked to self-isolate and get tested.

The province changed requirements for isolation on Friday, requiring close contacts of COVID-positive people to self-isolate for 10 days unless they are fully vaccinated and to get tested.

“It is incumbent on all of us, and indeed I urge all of our people to assist our Leadership in the protection of our children, Elders and community members during this very challenging time,” said Watson.

Unless you are fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms, everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is once again required to self-isolate for 10 days.

The province announced several changes and a new public health order on Friday to address the pressures on the health system as COVID hospitalizations continue to climb.

“Those who are close contacts of an individual who has tested positive and are unvaccinated, will also be required to self-isolate for 10 days,” said Premier Scott Moe in an online news conference on Sept. 10.

Vaccinated people identified as close contacts do not have to self-isolate but are required to self-monitor and seek testing if they have symptoms.

The government is now dealing with growing cases of increased severity and increased symptoms almost entirely in unvaccinated people, said Moe.

As of Sept. 10, there were 151 people receiving in-patient care and 39 in ICU in the province.

With test sites getting busier, the province is also expanding testing capacity through third-party providers and also by procuring more publicly funded testing resources.

More rapid testing resources will also be available to Saskatchewan residents with the anticipated delivery of 500,000 rapid antigen tests and another 500,000 coming after that.

The rapid tests will be made available to long-term care and personal care facilities, shelters, group homes and schools for routine testing. Businesses will also be able to use them for workplace screening.

The tests will be used to support the SHA’s Test to Protect program, and will also be available to health care workers, dentists, first responders and pharmacists for self-testing and to schools for students under the age of 12 and their families to use for at-home testing. 

Moe highlighted what happens when people choose not to get vaccinated.

“By choosing to not get vaccinated, you are choosing to put yourself at increased risk of getting COVID and also a significantly increased risk of experiencing severe outcomes from this virus,” he said.

“By choosing to not get vaccinated, you are increasing the risk to those who don’t have a choice, for example our children under the age of 12. You are placing tremendous strain on our health care systems filling up our ICU beds and burdening many of our health care workers in this province.”

System capacity

With capacity an increasing concern, Moe said the province is taking steps to deal with the problems.

“Our preparations for COVID-19 have ensured that we do have ample bed space. We do have the critical equipment in place and we do have all of the resources that required,” he stated. “But an ICU bed and a ventilator are just equipment and we have enough but what we need are front line health care workers.”

Time is of the essence, he said. In July 2021 over 17,000 shifts went unfilled in health care facilities across the province, an increase of 160 per cent of the previous July.

To handle the staffing shortage, Moe said the province is talking to all of the involved unions to make an agreement. If the agreement is not forthcoming in the next few days, the province will re-enact a previous labour mobility agreement on Sept. 13.

The province is also turning to the private sector for resources such as testing and contact tracing from third party providers.

“This will also ensure our health care workers are able to stay on the front lines, where they are most needed at the moment,” he said.

The province is also reducing non-essential health services such as non-critical or elective services in order to make room to respond to the COVID case load.

The temporary service disruptions resulting will be as localized and time-limited as possible to limit impact on patients and be announced as they are ready for implementation through the SHA’s normal service disruption public notification processes. 

About 8,500 MRI and CT scans will be bought from private providers and an additional 2,300 scans will be done in smaller hospitals.

The SHA will further increase volumes throughout their imaging facilities, including in places such as Melfort which recently opened a new CT scanner in their hospital, with appointments available to patients who are willing to go to centres outside of their home communities.

Mandatory vaccination/negative test for SHA employees          

While the SHA had previously announced a proof of vaccination policy for certain frontline health care workers, this policy will now apply to all SHA employees. Exactly how it will work out is still being developed.

Booster Doses 

With the administration of “booster” doses commencing this week for immunocompromised individuals and long-term care residents, Saskatchewan will soon start providing widespread access to booster doses for the broader public.

Beginning in October, COVID-19 booster shots will soon be made available for the Saskatchewan senior population, with further expansion to the broader vaccinated public throughout the winter. 

Further details including eligibility for boosters, sequencing, and timing of booster administration will be announced in the weeks ahead, contingent on vaccine allocations from the federal government.

Verifiable Proof of Vaccination Record 

Saskatchewan’s verifiable record of vaccination is in its final stages of development and will be launched during the week of September 20.

Residents who are currently registered for eHealth Saskatchewan’s My Sask Health Record will be able to download their vaccine record, including a unique QR code, and protect personal health information. 

Businesses, organizations, post-secondary institutions and municipalities that require proof of vaccination will be able to download a separate app to securely scan these QR codes to verify vaccination records without retaining or viewing any personal health information. 

More details regarding the vaccination records, QR codes and the verification app will be available in the days prior to the launch.

Nipawin RCMP are currently on scene of a two-vehicle collision on Highway #55 near Snowden, Sask.

The highway is completely blocked at this time and motorists can expect delays. Please slow down if you are traveling in the area for the safety of emergency responders at the scene.

Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.