The provincial government is adding more measures to protect the health of Saskatchewanians by making self-isolation mandatory and prohibiting the gathering of more than 25 people in one location.
Premier Scott Moe signed an order on March 20 following the provincial state of emergency that directs all orders from the government and the chief medical health officer must be followed. Moreover, all law enforcement agencies in the province now have the full authority to enforce those orders, according to a recent news release.
Moe said he was particularly concerned that some individuals returning from international travel were not following the 14-day self-isolation policy.
“I know that the vast majority of Saskatchewan people are taking their personal responsibility seriously and following this order,” Moe said. “But a few are not. This is not a suggestion. It is not a guideline. It is the law and it must be followed.”
New changes
In consultation with the Minister of Health, the following measures are in effect immediately:
- Public gatherings of more than 25 people in one room are prohibited except where two-metre distancing between people can be maintained, including workplace and meeting settings where people are distributed into multiple rooms or buildings, and retail locations such as grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations
- All nightclubs, bars, lounges and similar buildings are now closed. Take out of alcohol or food products is permitted as long as two-metre distancing between customers and the delivery of alcohol or food products is maintained
- In-person classes in all primary and secondary educational institutions — both public and private — are suspended
- Visitors to long-term care homes, hospitals, personal care homes, and group homes shall be restricted to family visiting for compassionate reasons
Mandatory self-isolation
Effective immediately, all persons who have travelled internationally shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from date of arrival back into Canada, the news release said.
Health-care workers who have travelled internationally, and truckers, rail, airline or other working crews, are exempt from this advisory only if they are required to work to maintain essential services, provide emergency health care services and maintain the supply chain, and are supervised by Infection, Prevention Control Officers and/or Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace.
All persons who have been identified by a medical health officer as a close contact of a person or persons with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from the date of last having been exposed to COVID-19.
All persons who have become symptomatic while on mandatory self-isolation shall call HealthLine 811 and follow HealthLine’s directives.
All persons who are household members of a person having laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 shall immediately go into mandatory self-isolation, call HealthLine 811 and follow HealthLine’s directives.
Total Closures
The closure of restaurants, food courts, cafeterias, cafés, bistros and similar buildings will be in effect starting Monday, March 23. Exceptions are takeout with two-metre distancing between customers during pick-up; drive-thru food services; delivery of food products; and soup kitchens, not-for-profit community and religious kitchens with two-metre distancing between tables.
The closure of all recreational and entertainment venues including fitness centres, casinos, bingo halls, arenas, curling rinks, swimming pools, galleries, theatres, museums and similar buildings is now in effect.
The closure of all personal service businesses including tattooists, hairdressers, barbers, acupuncturists, acupressurists, cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, manicurists, pedicurists, suntanning parlours, relaxation masseuses, buildings in which body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services occur, is now in effect.
The closure of dental, optometrist, chiropractic, registered massage therapy and podiatry clinics except for non-elective procedures is now in effect.
All daycare centres are limited to a maximum of eight children unless the room/building can be reconfigured so a maximum of eight children is kept in room and follow the Saskatchewan child care guidelines for care.
All daycares that are co-located within a long-term care or personal care home that meet the above restriction shall be segregated with a private entrance so that there are no shared common areas with the home and no interaction between daycare children and residents of the buildings.
For more information visit www.saskatchewan.ca.
