A new Public Health Order came into effect today that adds some businesses and retail outlets to the requirement for a Proof of Vaccination or Negative Test in order to gain access by the public.
The order now includes seated dining in all restaurants including fast food restaurants; Liquor manufacturers conducting retail liquor sales; and Liquor stores with an integrated permit that also hold a liquor restaurant or tavern permit. A proof of vaccination or negative test will not be required for food pick-up or delivery, at food courts or for entering a premises to use the washroom.
Businesses which are exempt include: grocery stores; businesses holding an integrated liquor retail store permit that do not also hold a tavern or restaurant permit issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority; businesses holding an integrated cannabis retail store permit issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority; places of worship (including weddings/funerals/wakes); personal services, health care services, professional services; public libraries; hotels or lodging including self-serve food options located within the hotel or other lodging; facilities hosting amateur sporting events, including youth athletics and recreational leagues; private gatherings at public venues (weddings/funerals/wakes/meetings); and private gatherings at private residences.
Proof of Vaccination
Those previously under the Public Health Order, which are still included:
Restaurants, including restaurants in hotels or other lodgings;
Nightclubs, bars, taverns, and manufacturer hospitality suites, buses and other establishments and transportation licensed by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority for the sale and service of alcohol;
Liquor stores that have been issued standalone retail store permits issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority; and
Cannabis stores that have been issued standalone retail store permits by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Event and entertainment venues including:
conference centres, meeting rooms and banquet facilities, except when being used for the purposes of a court or tribunal proceeding;
theatres;
cinemas;
bingo halls, casinos and other gaming establishments;
concerts;
live-music venues;
fitness centres and gyms; and
facilities hosting sporting events where tickets are required that have GST charged on the ticket.
Individuals who do not have proof of vaccination have the option of providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test result from within the previous 72 hours. A self-administered take-home rapid antigen test will not be accepted as valid proof of negative COVID-19 results and the SHA is no longer supporting testing for asymptomatic individuals at the public testing sites, preserving resources to test symptomatic and other at-risk populations.
The cost for all proof of negative test results for asymptomatic testing will be the responsibility of the individual. Individuals requiring a negative test result have several private options on the market that will provide a rapid antigen test or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for a fee.
Click here for a current list of locations and labs offering testing services.
