The Saskatchewan government is further restricting public and private gatherings. As of Thursday, public and private gatherings of more than 10 people in one room are prohibited. Exceptions are only provided where two metre, or six feet, in distance can be maintained between people. This applies to workplaces and meeting settings where people are distributed into multiple rooms or buildings. It also applies to retail locations which have been deemed essential. There is now a list of businesses which can’t provide face-to-face service.
Examples of non-allowable business services that will be prohibited from providing public-facing services includes: clothing stores; shoe stores; flower shops; sporting good and adventure stores; vaping supply shops; boats, ATV, or snowmobile retailers; gift, book, or stationary stores; jewelry and accessory stores; toy stores; music, electronic and entertainment stores; pawn shops; and travel agencies.
This is in addition to the following business services that were ordered closed on March 23: Restaurants, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, bistros and similar facilities. Exceptions are take-out with two metre distancing between customers during pick-up; drive through food services; delivery of food products; soup kitchens, not-for-profit community and religious kitchens with two metre distancing between tables.
One thing not on the list is liquor stores. Premier Scott Moe explains that one of the concerns brought up when making the decision to keep them open was around those who might go into withdrawal. Moe says they didn’t feel it was the time to add potential new stresses to the health system at a time when the novel coronavirus has reached Saskatchewan, and it could also add to the stresses of families.
Meanwhile, the provincial government says work places must ensure their occupational health and safety guidelines are up to date and in force to prevent the transmission of respiratory illness. Workers must follow personal protective measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 which include:
-All travellers returning from international destinations – including the US – are subject to a mandatory self-isolation order. Anyone identified by a MHO as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from the date of having been exposed. Exempted are truckers, airline, rail, and work crews that are required to work in order to maintain business continuity and are supervised by Infection Prevention and Control Officers or Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace.
Actively monitor for symptoms. At the first sign of cough, immediately self-isolate for 14 days.
Practice physical distancing in the workplace. Maintain a two metre separation between individuals.
Wash your hands often. Cough/sneeze into your elbow or tissue and wash your hands immediately.
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has launched a toll-free line for non-health related questions related to COVID-19. For instance, there could be questions around government services or travel restrictions. The idea is to take the stress off the 811 Healthline, so it will be for health-related concerns only.
Non-health related COVID-19 phone line: 1-855-559-5502 (for Regina residents: 306-787-8539) staffed 18 hours a day, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19
