Province answers common questions about its plan

Life in Saskatchewan has been different since the province implemented measures in March to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Saskatchewan government’s plan to reopen the province kicked off this week. To help people understand more about what that means, Ministry of Health officials answered some commonly asked questions Saskatoon Starphoenix and Regina Leader-post staff have received from readers.

Q

Must I self-isolate if I travel out of province?

A

Not at this time, but if you travel out of province you should self-monitor and isolate at the first sign of even very mild symptoms. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, headache, aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose, loss of sense of taste or smell and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Self-monitoring means watching for symptoms in yourself or your dependents, including taking your temperature twice daily.

Q

If I need to drive across the country, but I’m not a trucker, will the roadside checkpoints block me? Put another way, am I allowed to drive from B.C. to Ontario?

A

Residents are advised to limit any non-essential travel outside of Saskatchewan, with the exception of people who live in border communities and are commuting for work. Roadside checkpoints have been set up in other provinces to provide education, not to stop people from crossing the border.

Q

If services open in Saskatchewan before other provinces, some people might come here for dental appointments or haircuts. What will the province do about that?

A

Dentist offices and hair salons are private businesses and are in the position to make choices for their businesses, including serving out-of-province customers. However, it is important to note that interprovincial travel is NOT recommended at this time, except for pressing necessity.

Q

Can I visit with my friends and family as long as we don’t have more than 10 people in a room?

A

One or two close friends or families may form an extended household group, which is also referred to as a “virtual household.” This should be done with extreme caution and under the following conditions:

■ The friends must remain consistent. Do not visit different friends every day.

■ If you are going to create an extended household group, consider whether any member of the group has any chronic health conditions that would put them at greater risk, or if they are in close contact with someone who could be vulnerable.

■ Gatherings must follow the public health order and be no larger than 10 people.

■ Stay home if you are ill.

■ Maintain physical distancing where possible.

■ Do not share utensils, food or beverages.

Q

What sort of activities are permitted with people from another household? Can I have a games night with friends inside? A barbecue outside?

A

You have to consider the risk of each event. Board games that require cards or moving pieces mean you and others are touching surfaces that cannot be disinfected before sharing. Sharing food is not recommended.

It has to be stressed that for every situation, you have to consider:

■ What are the risks?

■ Is it possible that this activity could spread COVID-19 to others in the group?

QCan I have meals with people from another household? If so, what can I do to make that safe?

A

It is not recommended at this time.

Q

What restrictions are there on visitors in Saskatchewan hospitals? In what cases are visitors allowed? What precautions are they expected to take?

A

Visitors are not allowed at this time aside from compassionate reasons. That may include immediate family during end-of-life care, family of patients prior to a major surgery or visitors aiding in clinical care (at the discretion of the patient’s care provider).

Only healthy visitors are allowed in certain situations, including when patients are in palliative care, hospice care, or at a high risk for loss of life; in intensive or critical care situations where attending physicians determine patients’ conditions are considered high risk for loss of life; and for outpatient, emergency department patients, urgent care and in-patients who have challenges such as mobility, hearing, visual or memory impairment.

Maternal and postpartum units may have one visitor or support person for the entire length of patient admission. More information is available on the Government of Saskatchewan website.

Q

Is a negative test required for someone to be deemed ‘recovered’ from COVID-19?

A

No. At this time, the term “recovered” is applied when a person is discharged from hospital or when their home isolation has been lifted. Home isolation is lifted 14 days after the onset of first symptoms, provided the individual does not have a fever and has improved clinically, or 48 hours after symptoms have significantly resolved (whichever is later).

Q

What sorts of things would lead to a pause or even a reversal on parts of the reopening plan?

A

The Government of Saskatchewan is monitoring the daily number of reported COVID-19 cases and other important indicators to make decisions about how to advance — or roll back — the Re-open Saskatchewan plan. In order for the plan to advance to a new phase, the province needs to see evidence of the following:

That transmission of the virus is controlled;

The health system has enough capacity to test, isolate and treat every case, as well as trace every contact;

Outbreak risks are minimized in special settings, such as health care facilities;

Preventive measures are established and in place at workplaces, schools and other essential gathering places;

The risks of importing the virus from outside the province can be managed;

Communities and businesses are educated, engaged and empowered to adjust to the new realities brought about by COVID-19.

The province has shown a willingness to have the plan move at different speeds in different regions. For example, the province paused Phases 1 and 2 of the plan in La Loche and Lloydminster, where outbreaks were present.

Officials have said a key consideration will be not just how many new cases the province is seeing, but why they are happening. Unexplained community transmissions across the province could be grounds to reassess the pace of the plan, but localized outbreaks that can be traced to a clear source may not, except on a local level.

Q

I live in and own a cottage in a resort community that isn’t in a provincial park. Are there restrictions for cottage owners who don’t live here year round? Can they travel to their properties?

A

In regards to travelling to a cabin or cottage, it is recommended that you limit the amount of contact within the local community and stay within your property area.

Please continue to practice good hand hygiene, physical distancing and do not have gatherings of more than 10 people. In more remote areas, you should also consider the availability of local medical care in the event you become ill.

Cabin and cottage owners should be aware that there is a public health order restricting all non-essential travel into northern Saskatchewan. Travel is not permitted in or out of northern Saskatchewan, except for those whose primary residence is in northern Saskatchewan, for Indigenous persons engaging in constitutionally protected activities such as hunting, fishing and other traditional uses of lands, or if travel is related to medical treatment or critical public services and allowable business services.

Q

Can mosquitoes or ticks transmit COVID-19?

A

There is no evidence supporting ticks or mosquitos being able to transmit COVID-19.

Q

If a sporting goods store opens, will you be able to test equipment such as hockey gloves?

A

Not at this time.