Sask. limits gatherings to 10, orders more businesses to close

The Government of Saskatchewan is limiting the size of public and private gatherings to a maximum of 10 people in hopes of slowing the spread of COVID-19.

In a media release Wednesday, the government said effective Thursday, public and private gatherings of more than 10 people in one room are prohibited.

There will be exceptions in cases where two-metre distancing between people can be maintained, such as in workplaces and meeting settings where people are distributed into multiple rooms or buildings, and in stores that have been deemed essential.

The number has dropped from 250 to 50 to 25 and now to 10, but Dr. Saqib Shahab — the province’s chief medical health officer — said the current level isn’t “a magic number.”

The government also created what it called “a list of critical public services and allowable business services” to tell companies which businesses can continue to operate in accordance with social distancing practices.

Those changes also are effective Thursday.

The goal, Premier Scott Moe said, is to provide clarity to businesses so they can understand if they’re to be open.

“I don’t know precisely where the balance needs to be, but we are doing our level best to find it here in Saskatchewan ensuring that, for example, the supply chain for agriculture is still intact so that we can get a crop in the ground this spring,” Moe said during a media conference at the legislative building. “That includes potash mines operating so that we can have access to potash, a valuable fertilizer for agriculture.

“(The hope is) we can ensure that the lights are on and the heat is on in all of our buildings and the power is being supplied to our communities.”

Those who can continue to operate include: Health-care and public health workers; law enforcement, public safety and first responders; production, processing and manufacturing and the supporting supply chains; transportation and logistics; government and community services; media and telecommunications; construction, including maintenance and repair; select retail services; and banking and financial services.

As of Thursday, businesses that can’t provide what the government called “public-facing services” include: Clothing stores; shoe stores; flower shops; sporting good and adventure stores; vaping supply shops; boat, ATV, or snowmobile retailers; gift, book, or stationery stores; jewelry and accessory stores; toy stores; music, electronic and entertainment stores; pawn shops; and travel agencies.

Those businesses will be able to move into online retailing or can provide pickup or delivery services.

The province already has ordered the closure of businesses such as restaurants, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, bistros and similar facilities.

There are exceptions for: Takeout with two-metre distancing between customers during pickup; drive-through food services; delivery of food products; and, soup kitchens, not-for-profit community and religious kitchens with two-metre distancing between tables.

Personal service businesses, recreational and entertainment facilities, and dentists, optometrists and massage therapy operators are closed except for non-elective procedures.

However, liquor stores will remain open. Moe said one of the reasons was to avoid overcrowding at private liquor stores if the provincially operated stores close.

“This list will be looked at not only on a daily basis but most certainly will be looked at for two weeks and it’s effective for two weeks,” Moe said. “Then we will be looking at the list in its entirety as to, ‘Should we contract the number of businesses that are on this list, should we leave it the same or should we look at expanding it at some point in time?’ ”

The province already has seen businesses adapting to the new reality, whether it’s limiting the number of people who can be in a store at a certain time, creating shopping times solely for seniors, or going to a delivery-only operation.

Moe offered his thanks to the businesses that are altering their approach.

“This is a huge change for all of us in how we live and how we work,” he said. “I want to commend all of the workplaces and all of the employees who are finding new ways to operate in this new social-distancing economy.”