Sask. makes masks mandatory provincewide in public indoor spaces, adds other new restrictions
Saskatchewan announced new COVID-19 restrictions Tuesday, including expanding its mask mandate for indoor public spaces to include the entire province.
Originally, a mask mandate was in place for Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. That was expanded last week to include communities surrounding those three urban centres and communities with populations of at least 5,000 people, which impacted roughly 65 per cent of the province.
Tuesday’s announcement put all Saskatchewan residents under the same restriction.
“COVID-19 is now present in every part of the province, and you should wear a mask in every part of the province,” said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe during a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, visitations to all long-term and personal care homes will be suspended except for “compassionate reasons.”
“This is an extremely difficult measure for so many people, for our seniors and for their loved ones, especially as we enter this holiday time of year,” said Moe, adding, however, that allowing COVID-19 into care homes would be worse,” Moe said.
“We know the outcome of that can be deadly and it can be devastating. We’ve seen that in many other places across this nation and around the world, and we do not want to see that here.”
More than 20 long-term and personal care homes have or had COVID-19 in them at some point, Moe cited. The premier said he wants that number to go down, which is why visitations are being suspended.
Capacity limits on private indoor gathering sizes have also been reduced to a five-person max from 10.
Families of five or greater cannot have visitors inside their home, the province says. During the news conference, Moe went so far as to say that Saskatchewan residents should not allow anyone into their home who doesn’t live there — a similar measure to the gathering limits introduced in Manitoba’s recent lockdown.
There are exceptions, however, such as allowing caregivers or tradespeople to enter, but physical distancing should be maintained and a mask should be worn at all times.
The outdoor gathering size remains at 30, assuming physical distancing can be maintained. Any private gathering of more than five people has to take place at a public venue, the province said.
Entertainment transportation such as party buses and limousines are no longer allowed.
The Minister of Health will be speaking with members of the hospitality and sports and recreation industries, as well as faith leaders, about further restrictions to those sectors.
Saskatchewan now has 2,055 active COVID-19 cases, after public health officials announced 240 new cases Tuesday.
The provincial government has recently been under pressure from doctors and health-care workers to do more to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
A letter to Moe was signed by 442 doctors demanding further action, such as a public awareness campaign to combat misinformation about COVID-19 and explain to the public why Saskatchewan’s health-care system cannot sustain a drastic increase of COVID-19 cases.
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