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(A further cathartic exercise in imagined crisis communication for #covid19sk.)
Hello, Saskatchewan. Today we need to talk about masks. We all have opinions about masks, but I'm going to tell you first a bit about why we're here.
Hello, Saskatchewan. Today we need to talk about masks. We all have opinions about masks, but I'm going to tell you first a bit about why we're here.
When the pandemic started, our first priority was to ensure that our front line workers had enough PPE, including N95 masks, to be able to manage a sudden surge in cases. For months, we collected those resources while telling you, the public, that you should not be using masks.
Our front line really needs highly-protective masks because they're more likely to be exposed to COVID on a daily basis. And there weren't enough.
Some of you interpreted our messaging as a suggestion that masks weren't necessary or effective.
I'm sorry, that was our failure.
Some of you interpreted our messaging as a suggestion that masks weren't necessary or effective.
I'm sorry, that was our failure.
As thousands of researchers in hundreds of countries have shown, masks are one of our best protections against getting COVID and they also prevent us from giving it to others, in the unfortunate event that we become infected.
Masks work and we need to wear them.
Masks work and we need to wear them.
As the Government of Saskatchewan, it's our responsibility to keep you safe. Part of that involves making careful decisions about what rules to make for two reasons: first, with the power we have and the mandate you've given us, it's very easy to overstep.
Second, there's an axiom that one should never make a rule that people won't obey.
In June, most of our Province would not have obeyed a mask mandate, it just didn't seem necessary. Even in October, people in many municipalities would not have done so.
In June, most of our Province would not have obeyed a mask mandate, it just didn't seem necessary. Even in October, people in many municipalities would not have done so.
So we have worked, every week, to give you a message: wear a mask, wash your hands, and social distance.
And it worked. Most of you have decided to wear masks and that was enough to keep our numbers low for months and months and months. Thank you.
And it worked. Most of you have decided to wear masks and that was enough to keep our numbers low for months and months and months. Thank you.
But, as we said three weeks ago, the time has come for this to change. Acting on the best information from Public Health, we mandated masks in the municipalities where community spread was occuring in public settings.
Last week we updated that further.
Last week we updated that further.
We did not mandate masks in our smallest communities because our contact tracing is telling us that spread in these communities is not coming from public locations, but from private gatherings. We have been working with leaders and social scientists to address this challenge.
But we inadvertently created a patchwork of policy across the Province. A problem for which we've been castigated repeatedly over the last week and one that we'll address today.
As of today, you must wear a mask in all indoor public spaces, regardless of where you live in SK.
As of today, you must wear a mask in all indoor public spaces, regardless of where you live in SK.
Today, we also received a note from over 40 business associations telling us that another lockdown will have disastrous consequences for their members, and by extension, our economy.
They need you to have the freedom to continue to shop locally.
They need you to have the freedom to continue to shop locally.
So today, we're ensuring that you continue to have the freedom to move around our communities, that you continue to be free to spend money where you wish, that you continue to be able to eat, drink, and shop.
To do that, we need to ask you all to use masks.
To do that, we need to ask you all to use masks.
Now, we don't have nearly the police and RCMP presence to enforce every instance of people not wearing masks, nor are we prepared to deputize some kind of COVID Police force.
And we don't think it's your place to police your neighbours.
And we don't think it's your place to police your neighbours.
So we'll need to rely on your understanding that you freedom of choice, your ability to go out, relies on businesses being open. And if you don't wear a mask, and infection spreads, businesses will close.
So to each of you, let's work together to keep our Saskatchewan strong.
So to each of you, let's work together to keep our Saskatchewan strong.
We are almost there. We have almost done it! The first vaccines are being announced. Months from now, not years, in months, life will be much more normal.
But until then, do as any good person in Saskatchewan does and help your neighbour... by wearing a mask.
Any questions?
But until then, do as any good person in Saskatchewan does and help your neighbour... by wearing a mask.
Any questions?
