The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has given the City of Moose Jaw new partners to help deal with the pandemic and ensure better communications between the organizations.
Dr. David Torr, Dr. Ashok Chhetri and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab met with municipal officials on March 29 to discuss ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and variants of concern. They also discussed a letter that was sent to city council that asked the municipality to take stronger measures to combat the variants similar to the measures taken in Regina and area, including but not limited to shutting down the city.
While the Moose Jaw Express was unable to confirm the content of the letter, a source suggested that community doctors or concerned residents might have sent the document urging council to act.
Torr and Chhetri have “drastically improved the communications” among the SHA, provincial government and municipality, Mayor Fraser Tolmie said in an email. Council had asked its previous SHA representatives to make a presentation last fall, but those individuals have moved on and there was almost no communication after their departure.
Torr has been particularly helpful to the municipality, as he co-ordinated a vaccination drive-thru centre in Moose Jaw in a co-operative effort with city hall.
“What has been appreciated most by the city is the new dialogue and the willingness to work together. We know that the vaccine is greatly appreciated, and we have been collectively advocating for the City of Moose Jaw to get the vaccine to as many residents as possible,” Tolmie added. “Until that time, we have been asking the community to adhere to all the provincial guidelines as we closely monitor the situation in Moose Jaw.”
The Express will have more information about this topic at a later date.
