The provincial government has announced more enhanced public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the province, to be in place beginning on Nov. 27.
The new measures are focused on public spaces and activities, including entertainment venues, sports clubs, fitness facilities and restaurants.
Beginning Friday, all restaurants and licensed establishments in the province will be limited to seating only four customers at a table and maintaining a distance of at least two metres between tables with a barrier, three metres without.
The 10 p.m. curfew on liquor service is still in effect and restaurants will now be expected to collect guest information from all patrons.
Public health is also limiting the maximum capacity of people in public spaces back to 30 people for any public venues who are currently allowed to host up to 150 people.
This includes all indoor event gatherings like weddings, conferences or funerals, as well as for entertainment venues, casinos or bingo halls, movie theatres and places of worship.
Gatherings of any size that include individuals beyond the immediate household are currently not encouraged by public health.
Large retails stores, including malls, must limit their capacity to 50 per cent and enhance the expectation of mask use and other mitigation measures.
All team sports activities are also cancelled, including recreational leagues for all age groups. Athletes under the age of 18 may continue practicing or conditioning skills in groups of eight for fewer, while wearing face masks and practicing physical distancing.
The mandatory mask order is also expanding, with people required to wear face masks in all indoor fitness areas excluding aquatic activities, in all common areas of businesses and workplaces even if the public does not have access, and in all common areas of correctional facilities.
All students, employees and visitors in schools are now required to wear masks and day cares, with only children aged zero to two years old exempt.
All of these measures, including previously announced measures, are in place until Dec. 17 when public health will reevaluate.
Premier Scott Moe addressed the new measures in a press conference on Nov. 25, stating that the new measures are meant to further avoid a full shutdown of services like the province underwent in the spring.
For more information about COVID-19 in Saskatchewan, visit saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.
