Saskatchewan Declares State of Emergency

Photo Credit: Tourism Saskatchewan/Greg Huszar Photography

Saskatchewan has announced that it is declaring a state of emergency.

Saskatchewan has currently a total of 16 coronavirus cases.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will be discontinuing all non-urgent/elective surgeries, procedures and diagnostics as of March 23. This action will allow the SHA the ability to redeploy nurses and other staff and ensure medical supplies and personal protective equipment are available when needed and reduce risk of further exposure to our care providers and patients.

Saskatchewan to Close Schools Indefinitely From March 20

WHAT DOES SASKATCHEWAN’S STATE OF EMERGENCY MEAN

!!New measures have been introduced that shuts down almost everything other than takeout delivery services and daycare facilities are limited to a maximum of eight children. + Mandatory Self Isolation!!

Provincial State of Emergency gives the government broad powers to address the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes measures like the ability to limit travel to or from a community or region of the province and directing that property or equipment be deployed to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following measures are effective immediately:

Public gatherings larger than 50 people are prohibited.
All restaurants, bars and event venues must limit their seating to 50 per cent of capacity or up to a maximum of fifty people, whichever is lesser. All must be able to ensure social distance of one to two metres between customers. Retail spaces including grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations are exempted from this policy but must have processes to maintain a one to two metre separation.
All gyms, fitness centres, casinos and bingo halls are ordered to close until further notice.
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.
Any licensed restaurants and taverns in Saskatchewan will be permitted to sell alcohol as an offsale according to SLGA regulations indefinitely.
All crown utilities will implement bill-deferral programs allowing a zero-interest bill deferral for up to six months for Saskatchewan residents whose ability to make bill payments may be impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.
All Government of Saskatchewan ministries, agencies and Crown corporations will implement a phased-in work from home policy effective Monday, March 23, applicable to employees deemed non-essential. This means that any employees able to work from home should do so immediately, while providing managers a period to plan for work-force continuity.

More information is available here.