For the past four months, you've been reading about it online, hearing about it on the radio, seeing it on TV, and watching people argue about it on social media. By now, it's understandable if you're just a little bit sick of COVID-19. 

The government of Saskatchewan knows full well people may be fed up not only with hearing about COVID-19 but with dealing with the restrictions around it. But they're warning people not to let their weariness of the virus turn into complacency around their own safety. 

"It has been more than four months since COVID-19 arrived in Saskatchewan," said a provincial release. " It’s understandable that many people are tired or frustrated with the continued state of cautiousness.  If you are feeling well or don’t know anyone who has gotten sick, it is easy to think that you do not need to be careful. However, the recent surge in COVID-19 in all regions of Saskatchewan shows that we cannot become complacent."

The release, which was titled "Bored of COVID? COVID doesn't care." warned people that the risk of COVID is still very high in Saskatchewan, as evidenced by the surge in cases in recent weeks. Active cases of the virus have never never been higher, and there is no region without active cases. 

"I know we are all suffering from some level of pandemic fatigue," said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. "Most of us have probably been a little less careful as of late than we were back in the spring, and that may be why we are starting to see case numbers creep up again in some parts of the province as well. I don't think it's any cause for alarm just yet, but it's a clear reminder that the risks of COVID-19 are still here." 

An increase in interprovincial travel may have led to some of the new cases in Saskatchewan. Loosening of restrictions throughout the province was also likely, the province said, to lead to case numbers going up.

Moe added he wanted to see people physically distancing and avoiding large gatherings as they have been (for the most part) so far. He did not say there was any plan to reinstate past restrictions or make masks mandatory in the province just yet. 

Since July 22, 179 new cases of COVID-19 have been found in Saskatchewan. Out of those 179, 124 have been on Hutterite colonies around the province. 

Premier Scott Moe took time out of yesterday's COVID-19 press conference to speak directly to the 80 or so Hutterite communities in the province as well.

With the recent upswing in cases across the province and the vast majority of those coming from a handful of colonies, the Premier's words were stark, stern, and meant for maximum impact.

"Every single one of us in this province has been asked to, and the vast majority have changed, how we're living each and every day.  You have to as well.  If you don't, many will get sick in your community.  Some will get very sick.  Some will die.  We want to prevent that."

He was sure to add that the vast majority of Hutterite communities were cooperating and are seeing positive numbers trending as a result.

There are a handful of holdouts who are seemingly unwilling to adjust their practices in an attempt to slow the spread, and these are the colonies that are being the hardest hit.

"The vast majority are cooperating and we appreciate that.  However, there are a few that are not quite as cooperative.  They are somewhat resistant to allowing testing.  Some are telling us that they are not willing to change some of their community communal practices such as eating and worshiping together in groups that are larger than what is allowable under the public health order."

The government, he said, is prepared to do everything that it can to ensure that deaths won't happen and the spread is controlled.  Whether that includes instituting measures such as roadblocks and enforcing travel restrictions as it did during the La Loche outbreak remains to be seen.  But Moe says that everyone else in Saskatchewan has been forced to change their lifestyle "a little bit" in response to the virus, and the Hutterite communities will have to do so as well in order to get the issue under control.

"(This) only works with everyone's complete cooperation.  Each of us.  This is how we will protect your community and ours.  This is how we will protect your friends and your family.  This is how we will save lives."