Premier Scott Moe and provincial Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab offered some optimism during their daily COVID-19 briefing Wednesday, while extending the provincial state of emergency.

Despite recording the province’s third death due to the coronavirus, Premier Moe said that the measures the government has put in place are working in efforts to flatten the curve.

Moe said that the state of emergency, which was declared two weeks ago, will continue for at least another two weeks.

“All of the orders that have been issued to date under the provincial state of emergency will continue,” said Moe. “And all of these measures, I would say, are working.”

He went on to thank the people of Saskatchewan for doing their part in helping stop the spread and flatten the curve.

“Together we are reducing the spread, and we are, collectively, flattening the curve,” said Moe. “This will, ultimately, mean fewer cases of COVID-19. This will mean fewer hospitalizations, and fewer deaths.”

Moe said that while there are positive signs that the measures are working, there is still a long way to go.

Dr. Shahab stressed the fact that these measures are only starting to work because people are following the rules, and that they need to continue.

“We really need to accept that we have COVID-19 now as a risk in Saskatchewan,” said Shahab. “We need to redouble our efforts to protect ourselves, to protect those who are more vulnerable, and really keep the curve as flat as possible.”

Both Dr. Shahab and the Premier said the measures may be in place for “many weeks” and were hesitant to give a date as to when the province would see its peak amount of cases.