The provincial government announced Thursday morning they are activating the Provincial Command through the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre. The command will lead the emergency management response to COVID-19. 

"This is being done to better coordinate the pandemic response between government ministries and staff, ensure the right resources are in the right place at the right time and provide administrative support so health care workers can focus their efforts on providing the best possible care to patients," Premier Scott Moe said.  "Responsibility for public health recommendations and orders will continue to be managed by the Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Shahab." 

The Provincial Command will be led by the President of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, Marlo Pritchard; the CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Scott Livingstone; and the Deputy Minister of Health, Max Hendricks.  

"This structure has worked extremely well during other provincial emergencies," Pritchard said. "The pressures in our healthcare system as a result of COVID-19 has demanded all the resources of the SHA, and now require the resources of the entire province through Provincial Command." 

Starting today, the PEOC will be in charge of the operational, planning, logistical and administrative aspects of the emergency response. This will include ongoing inventory management of staffing across the healthcare system, as well as coordination and deployment of provincial supports and activities across multiple sectors. The PEOC will also establish normalized briefings through media availability and disseminate critical updates to the public.  

The Provincial Command is expected to be operational throughout the duration of the provincial emergency order, which was declared on September 13th.  

The update comes the day after 478 new cases were reported across the province, and seven more deaths connected to COVID-19. Of the new cases that were reported, 99 were in those under the age of 12, and 61 in youth between the ages of 12 and 19.  

There are currently 356 people in hospital receiving treatment for COVID-19, with 76 in intensive care.  

There were 4,223 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine reported as administered, bring the total percentage of the population who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to 63.2%. 

Here in the southeast part of the province, there were 21 new cases reported. There are 11 people in hospital receiving treatment for COVID-19 in the region. The update yesterday showed 219 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine had been administered. So far in the southeast, 56.5 percent of the total population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the third-lowest percentage in the province outside the far north.