Saskatoon at highest COVID-19 alert level but no changes coming

City of Saskatoon officials told councillors COVID-19 isn't spreading at recreation facilities, so they can remain open - despite the highest-ever risk level posed by the disease.

COVID-19 has never posed a greater threat to Saskatoon residents but city operations shouldn’t take greater precautions, according to the city’s administration.

During a special meeting of city council on Monday, officials told councillors the risk posed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus was now critical, according to the city’s COVID-19 framework. It marks the first time the administration deemed the danger so dire.

And according to that framework the council should close city hall and recreation facilities and declare a state of emergency.

But the administrators believe those actions aren’t necessary.

“With the onset of Omicron and all that it brings, our focus is very much on the internal actions we’re taking from a staffing perspective, to do everything we can to ensure business continuity,” city manager Jeff Jorgenson said.

He explained that meant officials are working towards being able to provide core services, like garbage collection and clearing snow, with the expected staff shortages caused by people needing to isolate because have or were in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

Saskatoon has roughly one third of all active cases in the province as of Monday, but officials said contact tracing shows the disease isn’t being spread at city facilities.

That means services can continue as they are now – people can continue to exercise without masks on, per provincial government regulations.