Province cautions against being over confident despite low COVID-19 numbers

Dr. Shahab said the public should feel confident in the success of Saskatchewan’s pandemic control measures.

“We know what works,” Dr. Shahab said. “When people are closer together in a larger crowd and people are sharing food or otherwise socializing close together that’s when you do get mass transmission events. So I think we’re aware of how we can minimize transmission but not eliminate it totally. And we’re also aware that the setting, whether it’s in a friend’s backyard or whether it’s at work or whether it’s at a movie theatre, we all need to self monitor ourselves so that we give each other the space so that we can all enjoy what we’re out to enjoy, but also protect each other from exposure to COVID-19.”

SUMMER TRAVEL RECOMMENDATION

At the start of the pandemic the province had said non essential travel is not recommended, but recently they have begun working with neighbouring provinces towards a more permissive approach.

“I think it’s good to check ahead in terms of what’s happening in that province, and even locally are they open to camping or hotels for people who aren’t from that province,” Dr. Shahab said.

“My general advice though is that do more things locally than further away from home. Even if you’re going out for a walk, everybody doesn’t have to go to one place in town. You can go for a walk in your neighbourhood, or the neighbourhood next to you. I think doing things locally is better than doing things at one site within the city or community. And enjoying what you can enjoy closer to home is better than going further away.”

“But having said that, if people do want to travel I think they need to check to see what’s permissible in the other province. And they need to plan ahead in terms of if everyone is asymptomatic, what’s the plan if someone does get symptoms. You have to contact local public health where you are.”

“But generally I think taking it slow this summer, enjoying amenities locally… is a recommendation that I think is something worthwhile for most of us to follow.”

EXPANDING YOUR BUBBLE

With individuals and families now able to return to places of worship and make restaurant visits, Dr.

Shahab made some recommendations regarding cautiously expanding your family bubble of acquaintances.

“If you go with your household or your virtual bubble, which is up to 15 people, three to five households or friends. If you go to a restaurant you’re sitting with six people, that’s your bubble,” he said. “And you should be separated from staff, or other guests at the restaurant because every second table is empty. Staff, the way they serve, they’re maintaining that physical distancing and maybe using a cloth mask.”

“So I think the way the guidelines are set up, is that you should really not be able say you were in close contact with anyone else apart from your group. And same is I would expect if you go to see a movie or a show, is that the way you get your tickets and get your concessions and go and sit, the separation should be such that you shouldn’t really feel at any time that you are closer than two meters to anyone who is not part of your house or your virtual household. That is really important for us to just build into ourselves that discipline and awareness and that really will keep all of us safe.”

SPORTS TRAVEL NOT RECOMMENDED

While the province has cleared the way for a return to sports training and competition, wide spread travel is not part of their recommendations.

“At the moment the recommendation really is that obviously you can start training within your team. You can make a small bubble of two or three teams, maybe up to 30-50 people depending on what sport it is, and play within your bubble at a local level. I think that is the safer option to do, and then see.”

Dr. Shahab noted that back in March there were a series of transmission events resulting from sports activities and the socializing the occurs afterwards. He is hoping that some of the physical distancing protocols in sports, not specifically on the playing field but on the bench, and eliminating the socialization which occurs afterwards will prevent clusters from developing.

“We’re hoping we will avoid further transmission events, and certainly we don’t want those transmission events jumping from one place to another. So I think some caution around inter-provincial or even travel within the province will stay for the time being and we’ll see how the summer goes