Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has tested positive for COVID-19.
A spokesperson from his office said Thursday that Moe tested positive on a rapid antigen test.
Moe has no symptoms and the spokesperson said Moe routinely monitors his status through testing.
His last negative test was on Jan. 9 and he tested positive on Jan. 13.
The spokesperson said all of Moe’s close contacts within the past 48 hours have been notified.
Moe said in a tweet that he is feeling fine, but will be self-isolating and working from home for the next five days.
He held a press conference on Wednesday morning and the province says anyone who was in attendance should self-monitor and rapid test.
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At the press conference, Moe said all current public health measures, including masking in public places, have been extended until the end of February.
He also said new measures are not contemplated at this time and said restrictions in other provinces don’t “seem to be slowing the spread of Omicron.”
Saskatchewan chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, meanwhile, also spoke at Wednesday’s press conference sitting just feet away from Moe for over 90 minutes.
Shahab was asked Thursday about his own condition. He didn’t indicate that he had tested positive nor had shown any COVID-19 symptoms, but added incidents of potential exposure are increasing with the Omicron wave and stressed the importance of wearing an effective mask.
“With Omicron, which is more transmissible, many of us will be faced with exposure and many of us won’t even know it,” he said.
“I think that’s the principle we need to go forward with — use your best mask at all times, and do antigen testing properly, not too frequently but at appropriate times. That’s once a week or in this case when you have been notified of a potential exposure.”
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During the press conference Moe repeatedly removed his mask while answering questions in juxtaposition to Shahab.
There is an exemption in Saskatchewan’s public health order on mask use allowing for removal for public speaking. Shahab indicated that is under review.
“I do, not just when I’m doing media but otherwise, keep my mask on at all times and I have for several days now. I try to use the best mask for the situation,” Shahab said Thursday. The doctor wore an N95 mask throughout the press conference.
“Interestingly, I just flagged internally, do we need to revisit it? In the past it wasn’t a concern. We’ll have to see if it’s an issue with Omicron. It’s worth looking at.”
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