The province of Saskatchewan has declared a state of emergency after cases of COVID-19 doubled overnight.
The declaration brings a number of large-scale changes for day-to-day life for Saskatchewan residents. Public gatherings of 50 people or more have been prohibited, with all bars, restaurants, venues and other events limited to the lesser of half their posted capacity or 50 people. All employees in these establishments will have to stay at least one metre away from customers. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and other retail spaces are exempt from that policy.
Gyms, casinos and bingo halls will be ordered closed until further notice.
Residents are asked to not travel outside Saskatchewan unless travel is deemed essential. That order will not take hold for residents in border towns or in communities near provincial borders, such as Creighton or Denare Beach.
All provincial ministries will institute a work-from-home policy as of March 23 for non-essential employees. Crown utilities will implement programs for customers to defer bills.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will also discontinue all non-essential and elective surgeries as of March 23. Patients who require emergent and urgent care, including cancer procedures and urgent matters, will continue as planned.
COVID-19 cases announced in Saskatchewan have doubled overnight.
A March 18 briefing from the provincial government stated that eight new cases, each presumptive, had been reported since the province's last confirmed count Tuesday.
All but one of the 16 total people who have tested positive for the virus in the province are well enough to self-isolate at home, while the one remaining person is in hospital for "medical reasons not related to COVID-19", according to the briefing.
Seven of the eight cases involved travel, while one person, an unidentified person in their 40s, contracted the disease after coming in contact with someone who had also tested positive. It is Saskatchewan's first case of COVID-19 known to have been received through the community.
“This is a critical time for all individuals and organizations to ensure that they are practicing social distancing, staying home whenever possible and absolutely staying home when you are ill, even with mild symptoms,” said Dr. Saqib Shahab, provincial chief medical health officer.
“We have an instance where the contact investigation has not yet demonstrated a link to travel, which could signal local transmission. We will also see more cases linked to travel within Canada. Limit all non-essential travel at this time as part of the provincial and national effort to prevent transmission.”
Other cases included a person in their 30s from Regina, two people in their 20s from Saskatoon who tested positive after travelling through different parts of the U.S., one person in Moose Jaw and another person in Saskatoon who were tested following trips to Vancouver and two people who were tested after coming home from Mexican resorts in Cancun and Cabo San Lucas.
Public health officials are asking that people who flew on two Sunwing flights - flight WG540 from Cancun to Regina March 14 and flight WG496 from Cabo San Lucas to Regina the same day - should self-isolate and self-monitor symptoms.
