Change in Covid Regulations Effective Today. |

New Public Health Measures

Effective Today

Effective today, all private, indoor gatherings are limited to immediate household members only. Single individuals are permitted to meet with one, consistent household of less than five individuals for the duration of the order. Co-parenting arrangements can continue. So too can caregivers and support services in the home.

People may meet and greet outdoors with up to 10 people only, provided physical distancing between households can be maintained.

Effective December 19

· Casinos and bingo halls must close.

· Personal services may operate at 50 per cent capacity, including staff and clients.

· Event venues, conference facilities, arenas, arts venues, museums, movie and live theatres and banquet facilities may still have events up to 30 individuals. During events in these venues, all guests must be seated for the duration. Food and drink are not permitted unless explicitly stated in the order.

Effective December 25

· Retail services must reduce their capacity to 50 per cent.

· Large retail locations are required to limit their capacity to 25 per cent capacity. Large retail locations are defined as retailers with a square footage larger than 20,000 square feet.

Phase 1 of Vaccine Delivery Plan

Starts Next Week

Phase 1 of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine Delivery Plan, which focuses on immunizing priority populations who are at a higher risk of exposure to the virus as well as those more at risk of serious illness, is set to begin next week.

The first step of Phase 1 will start next week as 1,950 health care workers in Saskatoon ICUs, Emergency Departments, COVID-19 Units, testing and assessment centres will receive their initial dose of the vaccine at Merlis Belsher Place at the University of Saskatchewan. Recipients will receive their second dose three to four weeks later.

In addition, the immunization pilot in Regina is expanding to include more health care professionals. The pilot will expand to key frontline staff in the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Emergency Medical Services, and anesthetists. Additional priority groups are being considered depending on uptake.

Read more about the vaccine rollout

Northern Residents Advised to Avoid

Non-Essential Travel Outside North

The Office of the northern Medical Health Officers for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Athabasca Health Authority and the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority are advising all northern residents to avoid travel outside their communities unless it is for essential services.

The strong recommendation follows as COVID-19 case numbers in the north increase. Many of the cases are linked to travel outside the north – to areas in the south, and out-of-province.

Regional Medical Health Officers are specifically advising:

• Against all non-essential travel outside the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District effective immediately and until further notice.

• That travel between communities within the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District be limited to only that for essential services, effective immediately and until further notice.

Examples of essential services can be found on the Critical Public Services list available on the Government of Saskatchewan website.

Read more

Self-isolation Period Changing

Effective immediately, the isolation period for COVID-19 positive individuals is changing from 14 days to 10 days. Individuals who are currently in self-isolation should still continue to wait for a call from public health to confirm they are recovered.

Individuals who are self-isolating as a result of being a close contact must continue to self-isolate for 14 days as it can take several days for symptoms to appear. Once symptoms appear, individuals must self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms. Immunocompromised persons should follow the isolation period recommendations of public health and follow up with their physician or oncologist.

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