Sask. reports two new COVID-19 cases, sets June 8 target date for Phase 3 of reopening plan

If all goes according to plan, Saskatchewan residents can return to their favourite restaurants or bars on June 8.

The provincial government has set that day as its targeted start date for Phase 3 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan.

The province made the announcement Thursday at the same time it announced there were two new COVID-19 cases. There have been 622 cases in Saskatchewan since the pandemic started.

When Phase 3 of the plan starts, restaurants and licensed establishments will be able to open at 50 per cent capacity. Gyms and fitness facilities, child-care facilities and places of worship also can reopen subject to guidelines currently being finalized.

Personal services including estheticians, tattoo artists, makeup applicators, electrologists, manicurists, pedicurists, tanning parlours and facilities where body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services are done also can reopen.

“We hope to begin phase 3 on June 8, but that date can change in all or in areas of the province, depending on the situation with COVID-19 over the next couple of weeks,” said Premier Scott Moe.

Moe said it’s possible the date could change, but because the Saskatchewan Health Authority is able to test and contact trace outbreaks at the early stages, any delay would likely be in a specific community or area of the province.

Moe said as the second phase had just started, it was too early to tell what kind of an impact it might have on case numbers.

“But we thought it was important to announce the date now so those Phase 3 businesses could begin preparing,” he said.

Moe pointed to restaurants as an example, as they may have to change the interior of the business to accommodate new guidelines.

In the announcement, Moe repeated a warning and reminder that has been reiterated throughout the reopen announcements: The most important part of the plan is that people continue following the public health orders regarding washing their hands, distancing, and avoiding large gatherings.

“The good news is that we can do all of these things and at the same time we can continue to go out and support our local businesses,” he said.

The number of people who can participate in indoor and private gatherings will increase to 15 in Phase 3, with the limit on outdoor gatherings increasing to 30.

But the province’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said just because that will be the new limit doesn’t mean every gathering has to have 30 people. And he also warned about sharing food.

Places of worship will be able to open June 8 as well, which is a new addition to the phase.

Moe said the government had heard from those in the community about that and has been working in consultation with people who run those facilities on how to open safely.

Shahab said some people may want to continue attending services online, and things that can increase virus transfer like singing and passing things around should be avoided.

Phase 1 of the plan began May 4. Phase 2 started on Tuesday.

The government said more information on guidelines is to be available Friday.

As well, on June 8, commercial and bulk customers will be able to take their recycling to SARCAN outlets by appointment only. SARCAN will open to the general public on June 15.

A look at the numbers

Both of the new cases reported Thursday are in the far north.

Of the 622 cases to date, 244 have been in the far north, 165 have been in the Saskatoon area, 110 live in the north, 76 are from the Regina area, 15 reside in the south and 12 are from the central region.

So far, 348 of the cases have been community contacts (including mass gatherings), 139 cases have been travellers, 72 haven’t had any known exposures and 63 still are being investigated.

The total includes 223 cases in the 20-to-39 age range, 188 between the ages of 40 and 59, 104 in the 60-to-79 range, 89 involving people 19 and under, and 18 in the 80-and-over range.

Fifteen more people were reported recovered Thursday, increasing that total so far to 509. Seven people have died in the province to date.

There now are 106 active cases in the province. That includes 93 in the far north, six in the north, five in Saskatoon, one in the central region and one in Regina.

Five people are in hospital, including two (one each in Regina and Saskatoon) who are receiving inpatient care. Three people are in intensive care in Saskatoon.

Of the 42,443 COVID-19 tests performed so far in the province, 492 were done Thursday.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of the story, reflecting a change in the reopening dates for SARCAN.