The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is increasing family presence restrictions in Critical Care Units to two essential family/support persons, and only one is allowed in at a time.

This change is implemented across the province and is due to the high number of patients in ICU.

The SHA said in a release, "There are currently more patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across the province than there have been at any other time during the COVID-19 pandemic. The vast majority of those patients are COVID positive. Limiting the number of family members and visitors will help to ensure proper physical distancing and help mitigate the risk of COVID transmission in ICU settings."

These restrictions could change in the coming weeks, depending on the level of COVID-19 transmission.

"These limitations will be reviewed regularly but will remain in place until it is safe to return to the previous level of family presence." 

There is no change to end-of-life family presence, which allows two designated people at a time, in the ICUs or elsewhere.