The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced proactive measures and precautions to combat COVID-19 and ensure safety in SHA facilities on April 14, including new screening and masking requirements for healthcare providers.聽
Staff, physicians, learners, trainees, vendors and contractors will be screened daily as they enter any SHA facility or program area to ensure they do not have any influenza like illness starting on April 15. All staff and physicians who work in patient/client/resident care areas, or travel through those areas, will be wearing a mask at all times for added levels of protection.聽These measures are being put in place to protect everyone from being exposed to COVID-19 and to prevent spreading the virus.
鈥淪afety is our top priority,鈥� said Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone. 鈥淭hat is why we continue to escalate our efforts to protect our patients and healthcare providers. Requiring these daily screening practices and adapting our approach to masking will help us stop the spread of COVID-19 and help protect our workforce to ensure our healthcare services are there when needed.鈥�
The implementation of screening measures will be phased in throughout the SHA services including long-term care facilities, programs, hospitals, primary care sites, as well as affiliates working towards a standard of daily screening and temperature checks twice daily consistent with self-monitoring, along with the most recent health Canada guidelines.聽
The SHA has appreciated the understanding of the public as these additional measures to ensure the safety of their patients and healthcare workers are implemented in the coming days.聽
The SHA will continue to remind the public that the key variable for saving lives and protecting healthcare workers is public compliance with isolation measures, physical distancing, effective hand washing and staying home whenever possible.聽
Saskatchewan residents can continue to help by taking specific action, including practising good hygiene, washing hands regularly and practising physical distancing (two metres apart wherever possible). Also, taking care of family, friends and neighbours who may be affected by mandatory self-isolation orders is crucial.
Further, residents should abide by provincial and local travel, self-isolation, event and gathering restrictions. Moreover, healthcare workers and residents should use medical supplies effectively and efficiently, so that they are there when needed.
Finally, residents are reminded to avoid visiting hospitals and long-term care facilities, unless there are compassionate reasons for doing so.
