More focus on older people, NDP says in response to new COVID-19 modeling

Saskatoon-New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Ryan Meili responded on November 20 to the new COVID-19 modeling released by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health the day before after seeking new modeling for most of the fall. did.

Speaking through a zoom video conference from Saskatoon, Meili said, “The potential number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths here in Saskatchewan shows a very disturbing path.”

“It will cause a lot of worries and concerns for families of small businesses and workers who are wondering what this means for their jobs.” He said that people across the state have their own health, economy. He said he was worried about “what would be the impact if we went the way of Manitoba, Alberta and North Dakota, which suggests that modeling could happen here.”

In each of these jurisdictions, new cases of COVID-19 are increasing exponentially, and the number of new cases per day is currently increasing.

He pointed out that it was a “major concern” for the elderly and called on the state to increase the number of long-term care facilities.

Saskatoon Eastview MLA Mattlab, senior critic of Meili and NDP, said that many workers in long-term care facilities work part-time there and are worthwhile in multiple facilities or other part-time jobs. Stated. Cohorting limits his ability to work in multiple locations, so he said he should hire them as full-time staff as a way to “staff” the system.

Similar measures should be taken for nurses who currently work casually rather than full-time.

“That’s exactly the problem. We need to have staff in place to get everyone involved as much as possible,” says Meili. “It’s very dangerous to wait for the healthcare system to respond and switch to this idea of ​​letting it run wild in the community and then dealing with it in healthcare. The staff are just there now because you’re right. No. “

Ai said there are a lot of casual workers. “Part of the staffing is to move them full-time.”

Love is a $ 160 million COVID-19 emergency for the state to “ensure that older people can stay home safely for as long as possible,” especially for long-term and home care staffing. He said he should spend money from the fund.

He also called for regular and clear communication from the government regarding pandemic outbreaks. I would like to see the steps taken to mitigate these outbreaks.

Ai also said there should be an independent review of long-term care in Saskatchewan.

“We call for the introduction of an emergency protocol to ensure a minimum standard of care with the right resident-caregiver ratio. We are for each resident who cares. We want minimum daily care and a reduction in the number of residents per room. “

Ai also said the government should increase access to technology for older people to address their mental health needs.

“If the virus gets worse as suggested by modeling, there will be no staff to deal with it,” Meili emphasized the need to take precautions, and people triage in the car in Steinbach, Manitoba. There are situations where we are seeing it. We deal with things like people are triaging in the car. In any case, doctors want all of us. You have to make a decision of the kind that is not. “

Models published by Saskatchewan on November 19 and the federal government on November 20 both show hockey stick-type graphs, with new cases of COVID-19 rising rapidly in the coming weeks. It is modeled on. Of the four new scenarios that modeled Saskatchewan, three suggest that in six months, 300,000 to 469,000 people in Saskatchewan, or 25.6 to 40 percent of the state’s population, could become infected. doing. The remaining “optimistic” scenarios have already been exceeded.

Asked about this, Meili said: , Hundreds of hospitalizations per day.

“We’re talking about a healthcare system that’s already overloaded and completely overwhelmed, and that’s why it’s so frustrating to see the government double with limited action now. When is that time, this is the time to bring in that three-week circuit breaker to really change the course.

“We saw an optimistic scenario, but now that measures are being taken, it’s a really faint scenario of hope, and it’s unlikely. And modeling shows here and around Canada. Check the types of exponential growth. There is something we can do now. Do them now. Wait two weeks to see if doing what we know is inadequate. Don’t. It’s the wrong approach. We need a minister, we need a prime minister, we need to exercise leadership, otherwise very dire situations, loss of life, illness Thousands of people are absent from work more than they need to. “

The NDP has called for a three-week “circuit breaker” to “temporarily adjust current short-term tough behavior so that it can manage things.”

“We knew this was coming, so we were all done and we decided to hold the election based on the idea that we had already defeated it,” Meili said the Saskatchewan government. As a result, he said Saskatchewan is now late.

Manitoba has a blockade in which stores are only allowed to sell essentials and are not allowed to visit private homes.

Meili said. “In the spring, this was new to everyone. But eight months later, Scott Moe, here in Saskatchewan, instead of hiding what he’s about to see. , Acted that way and sat in his hand. “