Services are being limited at the Weyburn General Hospital for non-COVID-19 patients following a decision from the Saskatchewan Health Authority on Wednesday to solely care for COVID-19 patients in inpatient wards.

Weyburn Mayor Marcel Roy understands the news may be difficult for some residents in the city and surrounding area, but he said people are pulling together to get through this difficult time.

“We’re dealing with this very well and people are working all together through this,” stated Roy. “While the hospital is being shut in for inpatients, our emergency rooms will still be open.”

He reminded residents that the hospital will still accept patients seeking emergency services during this change. Those patients would then be transferred to other medical facilities for recovery or available treatments, which Roy noted is the case sometimes anyways.

The SHA shared in a statement that non-COVID patients will be moved to hospitals in the surrounding area such as Estevan or Arcola.

Roy mentioned that citizens may have already understood they should only make a hospital trip unless it’s absolutely necessary.

“Unless it’s a real emergency, don’t come to the hospital unless you absolutely have to,” he added. “The hospital has already been saying that for quite a few months already.”