Saskatchewan is moving ahead with the third phase of a provincial reopening plan after two more cases of COVID-19 were reported May 21.
Both new cases are in the far north, though no exact location was provided by provincial officials. Five people are in hospital province-wide with the disease, with three people (all in Saskatoon) in intensive care.
Fifteen people have been reported as recovered, bringing the province's total number of active cases down to 106. Out of those 106 cases, 99 of them are in northern locations. No cases have been confirmed or reported in northeast Saskatchewan, including Flin Flon and nearby communities.
Most cases in Saskatchewan have been reported through community contact - 348 of 622 total cases. Saskatchewan has reported more than twice as many cases of COVID-19 than Manitoba, despite having a smaller population.
The Saskatchewan government also announced plans to move to phase three of the provincial Reopen Saskatchewan plan, tentatively scheduled to begin June 8. The province began phase two of the plan earlier this week.
Phase three will also restaurants and licensed establishments to reopen to half their full capacity. Gyms will be able to reopen, along with childcare facilities and churches, mosques and other worship places.
The next phase is set to add more businesses previously ordered closed, including businesses like tattoo and beauty parlours, manicurists, tanning salons and personal service facilities.
Previous plans for phase three have changed. Part of the newest phase will include increasing group sizes for public events. Indoor gatherings will be allowed to increase to 15 people in phase three, with outdoor gatherings moving up to 30 people or less. Guidelines are being created for restaurants and bars to safely operate.
