Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 situation is showing signs of improvement and the province has lifted some restrictions.
The province announced the first step of its “Saskatchewan’s Re-Opening Roadmap” May 30, announcing loosening of province-wide health restrictions put in place to kill the spread of COVID-19. In a May 30 statement, the province said the changes were made possible “thanks to the rapid expansion and delivery of COVID-19 vaccine and the patient and cautious following of public health measures by the public.”
Those restriction changes include allowing private gatherings of up to 10 people, with public indoor gatherings of up to 30 people allowed and public outdoor gatherings as large as 150 people. Restaurants and bars can open for in-person seating, with up to six people from mixed households able to be seated. Video lottery terminals (VLTs) can be used once again and churches and other worship facilities can open to up to 30 per cent capacity or 150 people - whichever number is smaller.
With high school graduations less than a month away, the province has given the thumbs-up to holding outdoor graduation ceremonies with up to 150 people.
Sports and fitness also got a boost in the new changes, with outdoor team sports able to restart for competition and gameplay - provided that capacity for the sports meets the other restrictions for group and gathering size.
Also being changed are restrictions to visits to long-term and personal care homes. Residents at these facilities can have two visitors at a time indoors per resident, with up to four family members or support people at a time outside. Residents who leave their facilities for outings will also no longer have to quarantine once they come back to the home.
While the restrictions have been lifted, the province has warned the public to not go too hard, too fast - just because the orders have been changed, reads the May 30 statement, doesn’t mean everybody should do everything all at once if they feel uneasy.
“While the restrictions being lifted are no longer mandatory, many of them are still recommended. Only increase your contact with others as much as you feel comfortable. Older persons and those with increased risk factors may wish to wait until two weeks after receiving a second dose before attending gatherings. Transmission is generally less likely outdoors than indoors,” reads the statement.
“If we continue to remain diligent and observe public health measures, we will reach our goal of re-opening our province in the weeks ahead.”
More changes, including lifting capacity limits for retail stores and restaurants and easing orders for other activities, are tentatively scheduled for June 20, when the provincial government plans to move into step two of the reopening plan. The second step will only take place, according to the Saskatchewan government website, if it’s been three weeks since 70 per cent of Saskatchewan residents age 30 and up have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose - the province hit the 70 per cent mark May 28.
