Household-only rule starts in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan surpassed more than 100 deaths from COVID-19 the same day new public-health rules came into effect on gatherings.

Health officials said Thursday that seven more people have died from the novel coronavirus — all of them 40 and older, with five of them 80 and over.

The province’s death toll since the start of the pandemic sits at 105.

Hospitals were treating 126 patients with COVID-19, with 22 of them in intensive care. Another 238 infections were also announced.

Residents can no longer have guests in their homes under a new COVID-19 health order that started Thursday. It is to be in place until at least Jan. 15.

The previous rule said no more than five people could be inside someone’s home, unless more than that lived there. Police in Regina said Thursday that officers wrote a $2,800 ticket for a woman after finding eight people in an apartment last weekend.

There are some exceptions to the new household visiting rule. Those who live alone can socialize with people in another household that has no more than five people, child custody arrangements can continue and residents can keep receiving support services.

People are also limited to socializing in outdoor groups no larger than 10.

Starting Saturday, bingo halls and casinos must also close, and personal care services, such as hairdressers, have to cut their capacity in half.

Retailers have until Christmas Day before they also need to drop to 50 per cent capacity, and larger stores will be limited to 25 per cent.

The province has also changed the isolation period for people who have tested positive for the virus to 10 days, down from 14.

An explanation for the change wasn’t immediately provided. Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, was to provide a briefing later Thursday.

The Ministry of Health said people who are isolating because they were deemed a close contact of a positive case should keep doing so for 14 days, because it can take several days to show symptoms.

If symptoms do appear, officials said people must isolate for 10 days from that time.

Shahab has said household visits are a main source of COVID-19 transmission in the province.

Premier Scott Moe has said he knows the new restrictions about gatherings will be tough because of the holidays, but residents should plan to have a quieter Christmas.