Province declares state of emergency due to COVID-19

The Government of Saskatchewan took the rare step Wednesday of declaring a provincial state of emergency.

It’s so rare that Premier Scott Moe couldn’t remember it happening before. He could recall communities issuing similar edicts after floods or forest fires, but not the province.

Such is the reach of COVID-19.

“I would hope that (the declaration) lends itself to the importance of what Dr. (Saqib) Shahab has been talking about with respect to how our health system will be able to manage what’s coming at Saskatchewan,” Moe told reporters at the Saskatchewan Legislature. “The only way we manage (the threat of the coronavirus) is by flattening the curve.

“There’s no health system in the world that can manage this virus if we are not able to practise social distancing.”

Moe was joined during the media conference by Shahab — the province’s chief medical health officer — and Health Minister Jim Reiter.

They laid out the reasoning for making the order, which was issued on the same day the province revealed it had eight new presumptive cases of COVID-19. The total number in the province now is 16.

The state of emergency gives the province expanded powers aimed at reducing the risk to Saskatchewan residents, from potentially limiting travel to or from an area to ordering the movement of equipment to deal with the pandemic.

“We don’t have anywhere in mind where we would use (the new power) immediately,” Moe said, “but we think it needs to be available to act very quickly in what is an increasingly volatile situation.”

After consulting with Shahab, the government also set out new orders that it hopes will prevent transmission of the virus.

Effective immediately:

• Public gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited.
• All restaurants, bars and event venues have to limit their seating to 50 per cent of capacity or up to a maximum of 50 people, whichever is less. Patrons must be able to ensure social distance of one to two metres. Retail spaces such as grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations are exempt, but must have processes in place to maintain a one- to two-metre separation.
• All gyms, fitness centres, casinos and bingo halls are ordered to close until further notice.
• Residents are advised to limit any non-essential travel outside of Saskatchewan, with the exception of people who live in border communities and are commuting for work.
• Any licensed restaurants and taverns in Saskatchewan will be permitted to sell alcohol as an offsale according to SLGA regulations indefinitely.
• All Crown utilities will implement bill-deferral programs allowing a zero-interest bill deferral for up to six months for Saskatchewan residents whose ability to make bill payments may be impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.
• All Government of Saskatchewan ministries, agencies and Crown corporations will implement a phased-in work-from-home policy effective Monday, applicable to employees deemed non-essential. Any employees who are able to work from home should do so immediately.

Moe said the order for bars and restaurants was only Phase 1. He noted the government may implement Phase 2, which is closing them completely other than takeout or drive-thru.

Shahab has been preaching the idea of social distancing regularly. He reiterated it during the media conference, especially when asked about setting a maximum number for people at a gathering.

He noted he won’t go to a meeting if those in attendance can’t sit more than a metre apart and he won’t visit anyone’s house if too many people are there.

“I’m not very popular right now,” he said. “But I won’t go if we can’t sit two metres apart. And I don’t want to go to a gathering with more than four or five people. That’s my comfort level right now.

“Fifty is like a speed limit. Just because it’s 50 doesn’t mean that everyone needs to invite 49 people to their house. You need to minimize contact as much as humanly possible.”

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will stop doing non-urgent/elective surgeries, procedures and diagnostics as of Monday. That could free up nurses, staff and medical supplies in case the virus spreads in Saskatchewan.

Cancer, urgent and emergent surgeries will continue as planned.

As well, the government said parents with children in daycares should prepare for restrictions.

Moe said the state of emergency is in effect for 14 days but can be renewed if the need arises.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili shared a letter from Saskatchewan doctors thanking businesses which have already moved to takeout and delivery only and requesting that others follow their lead and close their doors before they are ordered to.

He said there are gaps in the government’s current steps for the state of emergency, asking for clarity on when non-essential businesses and daycares and dental surgeries will have to shut down. The government indicated those steps may be announced in the coming days, but Meili said the time for delays is over.

“The state of emergency is late and it’s inadequate and we need to see this government step up and act more quickly. We have seen delays at every stage in the response to COVID-19. That can’t continue,” Meili said.

“We heard from Dr. Shahab about the risk to the population and the kind of numbers we’re dealing with. If we’re going to reduce that and flatten that curve we absolutely cannot be following other provinces and being days behind them, we need to catch up and even lead.”

Meili and the NDP are also calling for specific financial relief packages from the provincial government to support families and small businesses who will be struggling through this pandemic.

Number of cases double

Two of the 16 cases in the province are confirmed and 14 are presumptive.

In a media release, the province said one of the new cases may not have a link to travel, which could signal community transmission.

Shahab said he expects community transmission to happen, but he asked residents to delay the eventuality by social distancing and by not visiting long-term care facilities, hospitals or those who are vulnerable.

The release also said people who were on Sunwing flights WG540 from Cancun, Mexico to Regina and WG496 from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to Regina on Saturday should self-isolate and watch for symptoms.

The eight newest cases include:

• A person in their 30s who was tested in Regina;
• A person in their 40s who was tested following close contact with a previously announced presumptive case in Saskatchewan;
• A person in their 20s who was tested in Saskatoon following travel from Tennessee;
• An individual in their 20s who was tested in Saskatoon following travel to Oregon, Nevada and Edmonton;
• A person who was tested in Moose Jaw following a trip from Vancouver;
• A person who was tested in Regina following a trip from Cancun;
• An individual who was tested in Regina following travel from Cabo San Lucas; and,
• An individual in their 40s who was tested in Saskatoon following a trip from Vancouver.

The province wants residents to limit all non-essential travel to potentially stall the spread of COVID-19. Those who are returning from trips are being asked to self-isolate.

“We are seeing exactly what we predicted we would see,” Shahab said of the rise in cases among travellers. “It’s happening pretty fast, but it’s still something that is manageable.

“At the same time, we’re going to see a lot of people — both short-term visitors and long-term travellers — coming back. It is essential now that everyone who comes back self-isolates for two weeks because we want to minimized any chance of community transmission.”

The province said 15 of the 16 cases are well enough to self-isolate at home. One of the presumptive cases has been hospitalized for medical reasons not related to COVID-19.

Shahab said other countries have dealt successfully with the virus in a span of eight to 12 weeks, so Canada is still in the early stages of the battle.

“Right now we need to sustain the next eight weeks at least and then re-evaluate,” he said.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Adriana Christianson