At Tuesday afternoon鈥檚 latest COVID-19 update from Regina, Premier Scott Moe had some tough words for those refusing to get vaccinated.
He spoke directly to those individuals, saying 鈥測ou should know, you should be fully aware of the risks associated with your decision.鈥�
鈥淓ven though we are reopening in Saskatchewan COVID (-19) is not ... disappearing. COVID (-19) will not be gone and those who have chosen to not get vaccinated will continue to be at risk not only of contracting COVID (-19) but at risk of much more severe outcomes.鈥�
Moe also directed words towards those encouraging others not to get vaccinated 鈥渦nder some misguided notion of protecting personal freedoms.鈥�
鈥淵ou鈥檙e actually the ones who are standing in the way,鈥� Moe said. He called it a 鈥渂izarre misconception鈥� that 鈥減oliticians like myself and others that we love imposing these restrictions on people and the general population 鈥︹��
鈥淚 can tell you today nothing, nothing, could be further from the truth. I hate it. I hate it and I look forward to the day that it all ends. But that day can only come when enough of us choose to be vaccinated. So if you really want all your freedoms back, get in line and get vaccinated. It鈥檚 really not that big a deal. We鈥檙e not asking you to storm the beaches of Normandy. All we鈥檙e asking you is to go in and get a tiny needle in your arm.鈥�
The big news of the day was that the province has announced that public health measures around outdoor sporting activities, initially included in Step Two of the Re-Opening Roadmap, can begin to be eased as part of Step One on Sunday, May 30. Indoor sports remain included in Step Two.
The outdoor sports must continue to follow protocols such as participants not competing if feeling unwell. Players and coaches are encouraged to screen for symptoms and no interprovincial travel nor tournaments are sanctioned.
Moe cited the rise in vaccination numbers as a reason for making the change.
鈥淪o many Saskatchewan [people] have done their part,鈥� Moe said. 鈥淭hey went out and they have gotten vaccinated. In doing so they are reducing the spread of COVID (-19) in our communities.鈥�
