Northeast area mayors react to Saskatchewan’s State of Emergency

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Nipawin Town Office (File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

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Rennie Harper wasn’t surprised to see the province declare the State of Emergency after Saskatchewan’s total COVID-19 cases doubled from eight to 16 prior to the announcement. She believes its implementation will lay out a clearer path on what residents can do and what can or cannot remain open in order to prevent the spread.

“I know how difficult it is for business and how frightening it is for people who aren’t here or [returned from travel],” Harper said. “Proactive is the best practice. If nothing happens, you can bet that means we’ve done a good job.”

Harper finds the residents of Nipawin have been stepping up to protect themselves and watch out for their neighbours. She credited the essential (grocery stores and pharmacies) and non-essential businesses for stocking their shelves and trying to keep positive.

If or when COVID-19 makes its way to Nipawin or surrounding areas, Harper believes Public Health will do its best to implement testing in smaller communities. Harper has spent nearly 30 years in the healthcare system, including serving as chair of the Kelsey Trail Regional Health Authority and was involved in pandemic planning for H1N1 in the province. She said she understands how difficult it is to set up a testing process.

“There are only so many healthcare workers and you need people who are in the know to do this testing,” she said. “We’re going to have to be patient and play it day to day. If we stay out of the public, hopefully we can keep all of this to a minimum, and the people that need to be tested will get tested.”

If sick, Harper encourages residents to call 811 HealthLine or use the province’s self-assessment tool online, pay attention to the news cycle, and call Nipawin Town Office if they need anything.

Rick Lang – Melfort

Melfort City Hall (File photo/northeastNOW Staff).

Rick Lang echoed Harper’s praise of the province implementing the State of Emergency; that it’s best to err on the side of caution, even if it’s unknown how serious the COVID-19 pandemic will be in Saskatchewan.

“You don’t know what happens from here on out, but there’s a potential for [COVID-19] to advance fairly quickly,” Lang said. “To be the armchair quarterback and say they should or shouldn’t have done that, that’s easy to say because you can afford to be wrong and it has no impact. When you’re the people that are in the front line making those decisions… hindsight is always a wonderful thing. To say, ‘let’s wait until [cases increase]’ is a dangerous attitude to have.”

Lang said the thoughts he’s heard from business owners in Melfort have mostly been positive, although there have been beliefs that temporarily closing or limiting services is overblown. He said he understands the economic impact the State of Emergency will have on the many independently-owned businesses in the city, as he’s had to close Melfort’s bowling alley that he owns, but shortening the impact and rise of COVID-19 in the province is worthwhile.

“Hopefully by taking these measures… we’ll get it under control and those measures can be reversed, and businesses will be allowed to open,” he said.

Lang also said the city will retain essential services during the State of Emergency, and that staff will be at City Hall to take questions.

When asked about the future of potential COVID-19 testing in Melfort, Lang said city administration has been in contact with Public Health since the disease arrived in Saskatchewan.

Rob Muench – Humboldt

Humboldt City Hall (Facebook/City of Humboldt – Municipal Government)

Even though they were restricting services and implanting precautions prior, Rob Muench urged Humboldt residents to not panic over the official State of Emergency, as the city had also been following the guidance of higher levels of government.

“We’re not big authorities on the health areas, so we’re relying on our provincial and federal governments to give us direction on these types of things,” Muench said. “We hope people will pay attention to what’s been stated by the province and follow along… it’s something I believe that everyone has to do their part and work together on this.”

Muench said the city has yet to have discussions regarding COVID-19 testing in Humboldt, but they would welcome it in the community if the province desires.

The message from the City of Humboldt is to work together during the pandemic. Muench said his long-term concerns are supporting the city’s small businesses once precautions and restrictions are no longer needed. In the short-term, he hopes residents will practice social distancing and follow the State of Emergency’s measures.

“We’ve had our share of tragedies in this community in the past couple of years, and I’m asking the residents to pull together and work as a community,” he said. “Try to help each other out where they can, and we’ll get through this together.”

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow