Sask. health minister rejects COVID-19 aid offer from Ottawa

Saskatchewan's minister of health has declined an offer for pandemic-related assistance from the federal government.

In a letter to federal health minister Patty Hajdu, Saskatchewan’s Paul Merriman said acute care capacity in Saskatchewan has been expanded.

“At this time, we have expanded the capacity in our acute and intensive care units in order to address pressures we are experiencing, and we will to continue to use the federal resources that have always been in place to complement those efforts.”

In the letter, Merriman requested expedited approval for rapid tests and distribution of antibody therapies.

His office did not respond to an interview request Monday, and the health minister last took open questions from the media one month ago.