Proof of vaccination or negative test required for Sask. businesses, venues, public employers effective today

Beginning Friday, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result will be required in Saskatchewan in order to access various businesses and event venues.

The requirement for vaccination proof or a negative test will also extend to all Government of Saskatchewan ministry, Crown and agency employees.

Regulations under the Public Employers’ COVID-19 Emergency Regulations coming into force on Oct. 1 will require public employers to have their employees present proof of full vaccination or evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result at least once a week. A negative test result is also required for partially vaccinated individuals.

Employers beyond the public service can voluntarily opt in to this policy. The cost for all proof of negative test results for asymptomatic testing will be the responsibility of the individual.

All Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) employees will see this proof of vaccination approach implemented Friday with a phased approach. The policy result is due to the presence of the highly transmissible Delta variant. It’s seen as a necessary step to protect health-care teams, patients and residents, while also preserving health-care services.

The SHA said it will share more details on this phased approach later this week with all health-care staff, contractors and others covered by the policy.

Health-care workers who do not provide proof of vaccination will be required to participate in a monitored testing program at their cost unless given approved accommodation based on the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.

The only acceptable forms of proof of vaccination in Saskatchewan include:

• Wallet cards received at time of immunization
• A printed copy of your MySaskHealthRecord (MSHR) vaccine certificate (with or without a QR code)
• A screenshot of your MSHR vaccine certificate (with or without a QR code) saved to your device
• An earlier version of your MSHR COVID-19 vaccine certificate
• A COVID-19 vaccine printout from Saskatchewan Health Authority Public Health
• A QR code/MySaskHealthRecord vaccine certificate uploaded to SK Vax Wallet

QR codes are once again available through MySaskHealthRecord and can be downloaded, printed or saved to a device to present as proof of vaccination. Any QR codes that were saved, printed or captured prior to Tuesday should be destroyed or deleted.

The provincial government is cautioning that some individuals are obtaining affidavits that indicate they are exempt from vaccination. However, as vaccinations are not mandatory in Saskatchewan and therefore individuals are not required to be vaccinated, legal affidavits are not required and do not provide an exemption.

Businesses will also require ID from anyone age 18 or older. Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 will need to show ID unless accompanied by an adult with proof of vaccination and ID. Youth without photo ID will be allowed to show other forms of government-issued ID like a birth certificate or health services card.

Proof of a negative COVID-19 test

Any individual who is not vaccinated and cannot provide proof of vaccination has the option to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result from within the previous 72 hours.

The SHA will not be providing testing for people without symptoms to give priority to those who are symptomatic, unless an individual is identified as a close contact or part of an outbreak situation, has had a positive rapid antigen test or requires transfer or admission to long-term care, primary care, social services or intensive care units.

Self-administered take-home rapid antigen tests will not be accepted as valid proof of negative COVID-19 test results. Other options are available on the market for individuals who require a negative test for a fee.