Risk of COVID-19 transmission in Saskatoon hits 'critical' status, according to city framework
CBC
Transmission of COVID-19 in Saskatoon has grown enough to tip over the risk for residents into the red zone, according to indicators monitored by the city.
Last year, the city created what its website calls "a decision-making framework to help guide civic operations and interventions based on the current COVID-19 risk in Saskatoon."
It's supposed to help limit COVID-19 transmission in city-owned facilities and inform residents.
The risk criteria spans four levels: minimal risk (green), caution (yellow), high risk (orange) and critical (red). On Friday, Saskatoon rolled into the critical category. The city's website now shows the status as red.
Data for the week of Jan. 5, 2022 shows Saskatoon's seven-day average test positivity rate is 17.6 per cent and the reproduction rate of the virus is 1.46. The seven-day average of weekly cases per 100,000 people is 30.5. Saskatoon's vaccination rate is 70.3 per cent.
The indicators are monitored and updated weekly, and posted online. However, the data is only presented to city council at the end of each month, after which council sets the status going forward.
City council previously approved the caution (yellow) level for January. The city did not immediately respond to questions about what the jump to critical on the website means for city operations.
If the city does pivot to measures listed under the critical status, that would mean declaring a state of emergency, all city recreation facilities and city hall closing, and mandatory testing being required for all city staff regardless of vaccination status, according to the website. The city would also not approve events or gatherings on city property, and city facilities would not be available for rent.
Core services would continue to operate with "enhanced COVID safety protocols that could include staff segregated to prevent transmission including alternative shifts." These measures are in addition to those already laid out in the minimal to high risk frameworks.
This framework operates in the absence of formal public health orders.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
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