It's been over ten months since COVID-19 first began impacting things in Saskatchewan, and well over a year since it first started making headlines. By now, more than a few people are likely, pardon the expression, sick of it. 

The concern from the province, however, is that people's COVID fatigue might make them complacent with measures designed to protect them from the virus. It remains more of a threat than ever in Saskatchewan, however, despite the restrictions surrounding it. 

"I think it's fair to say that all of us in the province are experiencing, including myself, a certain level of COVID fatigue," said Premier Scott Moe. "We just came through a holiday season where we had asked Saskatchewan people to perform a significant sacrifice in sticking to their own households."

That sacrifice was one of many people have been making in Saskatchewan this winter and in the months leading up to it. Sports have been shut down, schools have drastically shifted their approach to teaching, masks are mandatory in all public places, and private gatherings are restricted to your household only. 

"We are seeing this bump in numbers," said Moe. "We have to ask people, although they may be fatigued with the COVID measures that are in place, we need them to adhere to them just a little bit longer, until we can ensure that we have accessed the majority of Saskatchewan's people with this vaccine." 

The first major round of provincial restrictions came down at the end of November and has been extended every two weeks since. They are currently in place until January 29 at the earliest after being extended earlier this week. 

"We have some weeks and likely a couple of months ahead of us," said Moe, adding that even though people may be tired of COVID restrictions, they can still be fined for violating public health orders.