Residents pictured at the Lakeview Pioneer Lodge in Wakaw. (Photo: Lakeview Pioneer Lodge/Facebook)

The Saskatchewan NDP are condemning what they call a failure by the provincial government to keep seniors safe from COVID-19.

This comes after an outbreak at the Lakeview Pioneer Lodge in Wakaw, where 43 of the 44 residents tested positive for the virus, with four passing away as of Friday morning.

Around 60 percent of staff members are currently self isolating, leaving the Ministry of Health looking for people to step in for the time being who are familiar with the building.

Health Critic Vicki Mowat said in a release that the outbreaks at seniors homes are both predicable and preventable, adding the biggest question is why has the government continued to ignore warning signs.

The NDP say the government has been advised for years now to address overcrowding and infrastructure issues at some seniors complexes in Saskatchewan.

Wakaw is about 90 kilometres north of Saskatoon.

Late last year Parkside Extendicare in Regina saw a massive COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in at least 40 deaths related to the virus.