Visitation guidelines around Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities have relaxed slightly as of today, but not everyone is happy to see the new rules that allow more people inside. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) West has raised some red flags about the province's next steps. 

According to a statement released by SEIU West today, the union is concerned about the newly increased number of people allowed to visit those in care homes and other facilities. They worry it may undo a lot of the good Saskatchewan has done so far. 

“Thousands of our members work in the health care system,” says Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “They’ve seen firsthand how hard it’s been for residents, clients, patients, and their families who weren’t allowed to see each other because of COVID. But these members have also been on the front lines of the fight against COVID, and they don’t want all the work and sacrifices we’ve all made to go to waste.”

The new visitation guidelines apply to patients, outpatients, clients, and residents in Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities, long-term care homes and affiliate organizations, personal care homes, and Ministry of Social Services Group Homes. They include allowing family members or support persons to support patients and residents, only one of whom can be present at a time. 

The new guidelines also allow two people to be present at one time (as long as they can socially distance properly) in certain cases. These cases include critical care or intensive care patients, Maternal Services Units, and end-of-life or palliative care patients. 

“We hope everyone in our communities remains vigilant and continues their new personal safety practices which keep us all safe and can help our health care providers keep defending us from the kind of outbreaks that occurred in Ontario and Quebec,” said Cape. “We wish to remind our government, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and the general public that our members are the very people whose work was key to bending the curve of COVID-19 infection in Saskatchewan and now is not the time to be complacent about the requirements under the public health orders.”

The province requires all family members and support persons in these facilities to wear a medical-grade mask, abide by physical distancing, wash their hands regularly, and limit movement between parts of the facility.