Changes are coming in Saskatchewan but the province’s residents will continue to live in a “new normal.” Gatherings no larger than 10 people, restrictions around care homes and non essential travel remain in place. Mandatory self isolation and self quarantining rules in conjunction to COVID-19 remain in place.

Physical distancing rules remain in place supplemented, in some circumstances, like doctor’s offices, where it may not be possible, with personal protective equipment. And your children are not going back to school before the end of the current school year. As stated in the news release from the government that long term restrictions remain in place for high risk areas including “The suspension of classes in all primary and secondary educational institutions, both public and private.”

Phase One of the Re-open Saskatchewan plan kick off on May 4 when medical services will be re-opened as will fishing and boat launches.
On May 15th Golf courses, with very specific guidelines, will open. There will be no private or group lessons, league play and tournaments are prohibited.

On May 4th, on line reservations for provincial parks will open and the parks and campgrounds themselves are slated to open June 1st. Again physical distances and rules around gatherings applies at all times.

Phase two on May 19th involves reopening retail such as clothing and shoe stores, jewellery and toy stores and many more in addition to some personal service businesses like the hairdresser, registered massage therapist, acupuncturist and acupressurist. Where physical distancing isn’t possible, client screening, wearing gloves and face masks are all necessary. The guidance around intensive cleaning and hand washing that have been in place since the pandemic will apply.

And rules will be in play, for instance, in clothing stores, where clients can’t try on clothing, the businesses are encouraged to adopt no return policies and as well as urging on-line purchases with curb-side pick up.

Phase three involves re-opening restaurants and food services, gyms, child care facilities, remaining personal care services, as well as increasing the size of gatherings to 15 people. Phase Four is re-opening indoor and outdoor recreation facilities and increasing the size of gatherings to 30 people while phase five is to consider lifting long term restrictions.

But phase three through five is all dates yet to be determined. And all phases are based on very stringent monitoring which includes: transmission of the virus is controlled; the provincial health system has enough capacity to test, isolate and treat every case as well as trace every contact; outbreak risks are minimized in special settings like health care facilities; preventative measures are in place in workplaces, schools and other essential gathering places; risks of importing the virus from outside the province can be managed; and that communities and businesses are educated and on board with the new realities of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can click on this link for an outline of the government’s plan: Re-Open Saskatchewan (final)