Regina – Premier Scott Moe and chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab announced Wednesday 14 new cases of COVID-19 in the province, and further limited public and private gatherings to no more than 10.
On top of a further gathering restriction, Moe clarified allowable business services and additionally stores that are no longer able to stay open due to possibility of further spread of COVID-19.
“Whether you are working in one of the businesses or services that is staying open, or whether you work in one that is now closed and you are at home, each and every one of you need to know that you are doing your part,” said Moe during the press conference.
“We are asking a lot, but it is necessary and it will reduce the risk,” he added.
Moe said stores like clothing retailers, sporting good stores, vaping shops, pawn shops, travel agencies and jewellery stores will have to close.
Moe added if you are a business that needs to close due to restrictions, you can make the choice to continue operation online, or as a delivery service, “as long as you are ensuring social distancing measures are in place for your employees and any of your customers.”
A list of allowable businesses has been updated and stretches across all aspects of industry in Saskatchewan and can be viewed here.
Moe said if business owners feel their businesses should stay open, the province is “willing to listen.”
“We are willing to listen and we are willing to work through those on an industry by industry basis,” said Moe.
“We want to ensure that our families and our individuals in the province are safe, but we also want to ensure wherever we can we’re minimizing not only the impact of the economy, but in this case minimizing the impact to people’s personal lives,” he added.
Additionally, with four cases of reported community transmission and the federal government’s announcement for all Canadians to return home, Shahab reiterated if travellers who return home self-isolate for the two-week recommended period, we should see no more cases of community transmission.
“We may see in addition to that household contacts of people who are returning, that does falter so that’s one group we’re obviously monitoring,” said Shahab
Of the 86 cases, four are 19 years of aged and under, 69 are between the ages of 20 and 64 and 13 are 65 years and older. In addition, 57 per cent of cases are males and 43 are females. There are currently four hospitalizations in Saskatchewan related to COVID-19, two of which are currently in ICU.
