Dates for later phases of Saskatchewan’s five-phase plan to lift the province’s COVID-19 restrictions will depend on what happens in the first two, Premier Scott Moe said last week while announcing the plan.
He also said it’s too soon to tell if large sporting and entertainment events will be allowed this summer.
Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, said during a news conference to announce the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan that risks still remain around large gatherings. The province has an overall reproductive transmission rate of less than one, yet there were gatherings where one person infected 10 or 20, he said.
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Moe said the province will undertake vigorous contact tracing for positive cases.
“The answer is not as simple as if there is a spike in numbers will that cause the entire plan to go on hiatus,” he said.
“The answer is to understand precisely why that spike in numbers is there, where it’s coming from and how can we address it.”
He also said there hasn’t yet been discussion on re-opening schools.
The first phase of the plan will begin May 4, but Shahab said residents should be prepared to continue physical distancing and restrict travel for a while.
“We should be under no false illusions that COVID-19 has gone away,” he said.
Moe said the province is able to unveil a plan because people followed public health orders and kept the virus infection curve flat. However, he warned that there will still be positive cases and the plan could be adjusted if necessary.
He said his first priority remains keeping people safe.
“We will keep a very close eye on the numbers, while always remembering that these are not just numbers. They are people,” he said.
The businesses and organizations identified in the different plan phases can re-open if they choose. Shahab’s office will monitor the number of positive virus cases and that will determine if and when more opening occurs.
Today we announced our 5-phase Re-Open Saskatchewan plan
In the coming weeks, a # of businesses & services will be allowed to re-open – this does not mean stopping physical distancing, washing our hands or staying home when we feel sick
We must be careful & cautious #COVID19SK pic.twitter.com/I1BkAha7aF
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) April 23, 2020
Only the first two phases have firm dates attached.
Medical services will become available May 4 with precautionary measures. These include dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, opticians, podiatry, occupational therapy and chiropractic treatment.
Low-risk outdoor recreational activities will also be allowed, including fishing and boat launches. Golfing, with physical distancing, can start May 15 and campgrounds and parks open on June 1. Online reservations for provincial parks will begin May 4, and there will be strict guidelines for park and campground operation.
Moe said there are rules around these initial openings. For example, campgrounds can book only every second spot, to provide distance, and will be restricted to Saskatchewan residents only.
Gatherings will remain limited to a maximum of 10 people.
The second phase begins May 19.
This phase allows retail businesses such as clothing and shoe stores, flower shops, sporting goods stores, recreational vehicle dealers, gift stores, jewelry stores, toy stores, music and entertainment stores, pawn shops, travel agencies and vaping supply shops to re-open.
More personal services can also re-open, including hairdressers and barbers, registered massage therapists, acupuncturists and acupressurists.
All businesses are expected to maintain physical distancing practices and if that isn’t possible then items like gloves and face masks should be used.
Some businesses will be affected by specific protocols. At clothing stores, for example, trying on the clothes won’t be allowed and staff will have to limit customers touching the merchandise.
Phase three re-opening will include other personal services such as estheticians, tattoo artists and manicurists.
Restaurants, bars and food services can open at 50-percent capacity but buffets will not be allowed. Recreational areas such as dance floors and pool tables won’t be open because it isn’t possible to physically distance in those environments.
Child-care facilities will be allowed up to 15 children per building space and those that share a building with long-term care or personal care must have a separate private entrance and space.
Gyms and fitness facilities can re-open under physical distancing and stringent cleaning protocols.
At this stage, the size of public and private gatherings can go up to a maximum of 15.
Phase four will see indoor and outdoor recreation and entertainment facilities re-open. This will include swimming pools, casinos, theaters, seasonal camps and athletic activities. The gathering size will increase to 30.
At phase five, the plan considers lifting long-term restrictions such as gathering size.
Throughout the phases, the plan calls for protective measures for vulnerable populations, people to continue working from home if they can and enhanced cleaning and disinfection in all workplaces, public spaces and recreational facilities.
The full plan can be found at Saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.
