Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe said this week that lockdown policies have “little or virtually no benefit” and do more harm than good now that more is known about the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Moe made the comments during a press conference.
“But it is now clear, at least in this Omicron wave of the pandemic, that lockdown policies can cause harm in our communities often, with little or virtually no benefit,” Moe said “They cause economic harm by taking away jobs and removing family livelihoods. They cause psychological harm by taking away social contact, most particularly for our youth.”
“They are an infringement on the rights and freedoms that we have come to enjoy and value as Canadians. And that is why, they should only be used if absolutely necessary and only if they can clearly be shown that they are being effective and they are working and we are not seeing that as being the case today.”
Although Saskatchewan has not gone into lockdown during the latest wave of the virus, the province still has several pandemic-related restrictions including a vaccine passport system.
According to the Government of Saskatchewan, Canadians in the province require a COVID vaccination record to access indoor dining at restaurants, night clubs and other liquor-licensed establishments, event venues such as movie theaters and indoor fitness centres or gyms.
As for other provinces, both Quebec and Ontario have entered into lockdowns as a way to combat COVID-19. New Brunswick has also announced it will be moving to a stage 3 lockdown on Friday, the province’s most stringent level.
“Think of it as short-term pain for long-term gain,” New Brunswick premier Blaine Higgs said.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Premier Moe tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test despite receiving a COVID-19 booster shot.
According to his spokesperson Julie Leggott, Moe is not currently experiencing any symptoms. He has since entered into self-isolation.
