Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says some of the people urging his government to introduce tougher COVID-19 restrictions are people who have the ability to work from home.
Moe told a virtual convention of mayors and municipal councillors that his Saskatchewan Party government has been able to keep the most businesses open out of any jurisdiction.
Only bingo halls and casinos have been closed since daily case numbers began rising last fall.
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Sports teams aren’t allowed to play games, but businesses are allowed to see customers at reduced capacity and with other restrictions in place.
Moe says he’s heard from some who want his government to tighten up public health orders and from others who believe the rules should be loosened.
He says many employees working for businesses that remain open to customers can’t do their jobs elsewhere.
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“It’s easy for some to stand up and say, ‘We need to lock everything down,’ when they have the opportunity to work from home,” Moe told delegates in Monday’s online speech.
“The reality is this: No matter how severe lockdowns and public health measures are, they are not going to end this pandemic.”
He called business closures and other public health measures a “stopgap” in the fight to end the pandemic. Moe said that will only happen once there is widespread access to vaccines, which there currently isn’t because of supply delays.
