Province expands mandatory masking order, limits alcohol service in updated health order

“I’m not going to sugarcoat the situation. It’s not great and it’s been getting worse,” said health minister Paul Merriman during Friday’s press conference. “This threat is very real, but I believe we can get it under control if we do the right things. Saskatchewan, you’ve done this before and I know that you can do it again.”

In the past week, Saskatchewan has seen four COVID-19-related deaths. Dr. Shahab said this should serve as a wake-up call for taking the guidelines seriously for the public.

“We all have to remember why we all need to take precautions. We have over the last few days lost four more Saskatchewan residents to COVID-19,” Shahab said. “Our condolences and sympathies are with the families and care providers… but this is why we all need to take precautions; to protect ourselves, our families, our communities, and those who are more vulnerable.”

Back to Basics

The province initially issued the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan guidelines to prevent community transmission. It says every Saskatchewan resident should abide by it to keep public spaces safe and to allow essential services, like health care and education, to continue.

“Over the past nine months, we have seen periods of extremely low transmission and periods of unacceptably high transmission here in Saskatchewan. This has not been determined by the virus; it has been determined by the actions of individuals making conscious decisions to follow best public health practices.” _{Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab.}

Businesses and organizations are asked to review the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan to ensure they are abiding by it and make any required changes. The guidelines are enforceable under the public health order. If there’s a more stringent standard applied by a public health order, then the order supersedes the guidance document.

Mandatory Masking

While the mandatory masking order for indoor public places applies to communities with populations larger than 5,000, it will also apply to neighbouring communities of metropolitan areas, even if their populations are smaller. This is due to the proximity of urban centres, retail, and service integration.

The province has provided a list of the 59 communities to have mandatory masking and what is deemed an indoor public space. The masking order is already in effect in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. You can view more information here.

The communities to have expanded mandatory masking for indoor public spaces starting Monday are:

Aberdeen, Albertville, Allan, Asquith, Balgonie, Battleford, Beaver Creek, Belle Plaine, Bradwell, Cedar Villa Estates, Clavet, Colonsay, RM of Corman Park No. 344, Craven, Dalmeny, Davin, Delisle, Dundurn, Edenwold, Estevan, Furdale, Grand Coulee, Gray, Humboldt, Kindersley, Kronau, Langham, Lloydminster, Lumsden, Lumsden Beach, MacDowall, Martinsville, Meacham, Meadow Lake, Meath Park, Melfort, Melville, Moose Jaw, Neuhorst, Nipawin, North Battleford, Pense, Pilot Butte, Prince Albert, Regina, Regina Beach, Riceton, Saskatoon, Shields, St. Louis, Swift Current, Thode, Vanscoy, Warman, Weirdale, Weyburn, Whitecap, White City, and Yorkton.

The province asks you to defer to wearing the mask if you are unsure if the location you’re in is considered an indoor public space.

Health officials strongly recommend you wear a non-medical mask anywhere outside your home to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.

Alcohol Service Curfew

Effective Monday, all Saskatchewan restaurants and licensed establishments (including bars, taverns and nightclubs) will be required to stop serving alcohol at 10 p.m. Consumption must end by 11 p.m. There are no exceptions for private events or outdoor spaces.

Shahab said in restaurants, bars and nightclubs, transmissions most commonly occurs while those socialize away from their tables with others outside of their bubbles. He reminded those to wear a mask while leaving their table and to keep socialization with others to a minimum.

“If we can’t limit transmission in those settings and case numbers go up, then we will have to look at further restrictive measures,” Shahab said.

Safe Schools Level 3

Transmission in school settings has been limited, the province said. But it is recommended that school divisions move to level three in back to school plans for high schools with 600 students or more. Under the Safe Schools Plan, level three is to reduce in-class learning. You can view more details here.

Other updates

Fitness facilities are permitted to continue operating, but aerobic group fitness activities such as spin classes or aquasize are limited to a maximum of eight participants.

The group aerobic activities are permitted if participants are three metres apart throughout the duration of the activity. Individual aerobic activity is permitted if all equipment is properly distanced.

Hookah and water pipe services are no longer permitted. The locations that provide the service may continue to act as licensed establishments and restaurants according to the guidelines.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by paNOW Staff

Province expands mandatory masking order, limits alcohol service in updated health order

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