We will need to have a ‘cautious’ Christmas this year if we want to curb the transmission of COVID-19, said Saskatchewan’s top doctor. 

Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said to reporters on Tuesday that case counts are coming down which will allow for some gatherings over the holiday season. 

“I would still recommend at this point that if our numbers mean as low as they are, that we plan our gatherings very carefully, small, consistent groups of friends and family,” Shahab announced. 

This is a stark contrast to last year when Christmas gatherings were only limited to immediate household members. 

He did say that if you are living in an area where there is a high rate of transmission and a low rate of vaccination, to possibly rethink get-togethers. 

“It's not just the far north there are parts in the south, Moose Jaw, Estevan, Yorkton and area, Kamsack and area where vaccination rates are low, transmission rates are higher, so more caution around there, but general caution everywhere.” 

As for Tuesday, 86 per cent of those eligible have received their first dose of the vaccine, while 80 per cent have received their second dose. 

Shahab said he is done with excuses as to why Saskatchewan has the lowest vaccination rates in the country. 

“I am not willing to accept that Saskatchewan should remain forever the province with the lowest vaccination rate,” he said.  

“I'm not willing to accept that we can use the excuse that we are rural, northern, whatever excuse you want to invent, that that's why we will remain forever, the least vaccinated province.”