Gatherings limited to 10, more stores ordered shut
Province also expands closure of retail stores starting today
The limit for public and private gatherings of people in Saskatchewan drops to 10 on Thursday as the number of COVID-19 cases keeps rising.
The provincial government announced Wednesday that it will further reduce the number of permitted people in gatherings from 25 to 10 and require many more stores to close to the public.
The province decreased the types of businesses that will be allowed to provide in-person service, although they will be allowed to operate online and by phone, and will be permitted to deliver.
“I know that today we are asking a lot of everyone in Saskatchewan,” Premier Scott Moe said at the province’s daily news conference to address the pandemic.
Moe called the efforts to reduce the spread of COVID -19 a “massive civil defence effort” as the number of identified cases in the province rose by 14 to 86.
The businesses that must now close include clothing and shoe stores, sporting goods stores, book stores, flower shops, vaping supply shops, jewelry stores, electronic and entertainment stores, toy stores, pawn shops and travel agencies.
Outlets that sell ATVS, snowmobiles or boats will have to close, but automobile dealers and auto repair shops will be allowed to stay open. The closures take effect Thursday.
The list of government and business services allowed to continue to operate include construction, banking, manufacturing, transportation, media, telecommunications and “select retail services.”
The latter category includes grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, liquor and cannabis stores, pet food stores, hotels, laundromats, hardware stores and funeral homes.
Moe told reporters the government discussed closing public liquor stores, but did not want customers to swamp private stores or increase the number of people seeking detox services.
Production and supply chains will also be maintained for the forestry, agriculture, mining and energy and oil and gas sectors.
“We are in a different economy for the time being and it’s a social distancing economy,” Moe told reporters.
He said business owners who think their service is essential or are wondering where they fit should contact the provincial government.
A complete list of businesses deemed necessary and allowed to open is available at saskatchewan. ca.
The businesses and services that are allowed to remain open could change, too, Moe added
Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, revealed that four of the province’s 86 cases are in hospital and that two of those are in an intensive care unit. Shahab suggested the four people in hospital had underlying health conditions and that they include the two hospitalizations announced previously.
Shahab acknowledged there is a wide variety of limits on public gatherings throughout Canada and that they have changed since the outbreak began.
“There’s no magic number, like I’ve said before,” he told reporters.
“Even five people crammed into an elevator is five too many.”
In response to questions about why more information about cases has not been provided, Moe said his Saskatchewan Party government is working to become more transparent with details as the situation evolves.
Shahab said four of the cases are linked to community transmission, but added investigation into a new case can take 24 to 36 hours. As of Wednesday, 6,270 tests for COVID -19 had been conducted in the province.
The province also announced a new toll-free line for people who have general COVID-19 questions that are not related to their personal health.
The number is 1-855-559-5502 for all in Saskatchewan.
The line will be staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.