Saskatchewan reports 11 new COVID-19 cases; Phase 4.2 to start Monday

Avid readers, art lovers and moviegoers will be able to return to their favourite haunts starting next week.

The Saskatchewan government announced Phase 4.2 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan is to start Monday, when facilities such as libraries, museums, galleries, movie theatres and live theatres will be permitted to open their doors for the first time in more than three months.

They were among the facilities closed in March to limit the possible spread of COVID-19.

This means there will only be about a week between the first and second parts of the fourth phase opening. Dr. Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer for the province, said they learned a lot from how Phase 3 went.

“It didn’t make sense to artificially delay everything until all the guidelines were developed and four to six weeks – that would have been middle of July – I think it made sense to really open some of the phases that related to outdoor activities earlier,” said Shahab.

The reopening dates for other facilities in Phase 4.2 — including indoor pools, indoor rinks, indoor sports and activities, casinos and bingo halls — are to be announced over the next two weeks.

Shahab explained it wasn’t that those things were being pushed back, but that the first phase was brought forward.

Shahab also said he wants to start emphasizing wearing a mask, explaining that if everyone wears a mask in situations where they can’t always be separated then everyone is protected. He said, as we reopen, things like testing and contact tracing will continue to be critical, but so will a mask.

“As an added layer, having that reusable mask and putting that on when appropriate I think is going to be an extra layer that all of us should think about and practice.”

Shahab also said that people should be thinking about masks and learning how to wear them now because they could be difficult to find in the fall if there’s a surge in cases.

The provincial government also announced 11 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, but nine cases that previously were part of the province’s total are now off the books.

According to a media release, the Public Health Agency of Canada has changed its guidelines for reporting cases. Nine cases originally attributed to Saskatchewan involved individuals who lived outside the province, so they’ll now be counted among their home provinces’ totals.

As a result, the 11 new cases announced Tuesday increased Saskatchewan’s total to date to 753.

Ten of the new cases are in the far north and one is in the Saskatoon region.

Guidelines for Phase 4.2

In the case of movie theatres and live theatres, the guidelines included in the newest version of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan call for 30 per cent capacity to a maximum of 150 people — provided physical distancing is possible.

That may mean leaving alternating rows or seats empty. Assigned seating is encouraged, as are online ticket sales and cashless payment.

Hand-sanitizing stations should be set up near entrances, theatre doors and concessions.

For libraries and museums, occupancy levels should permit staff and patrons to maintain physical distance from each other.

Self-serve checkout and return services are preferable and computers used by the public should be disinfected frequently.

Curbside pickup for items that have been checked out should be considered, while items that are being returned should be isolated for 72 hours before being returned to the shelves.

For more guidelines, see the latest version of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan below.

Other new guidelines

Starting Friday, parks and campgrounds are to open to 100 per cent capacity for overnight stays and limited-term campsites. As well, washrooms and shower facilities are to open, albeit with increased cleaning and disinfection.

If physical distancing can be maintained, outdoor sports and activities can resume immediately. For sports and activities where physical distancing is impossible — such as full-contact sports — the government recommended the creation of mini-leagues that would allow teams to return to playing games while helping limit the spread of the virus.

At a variety of facilities — including gyms and fitness facilities, beaches, campgrounds, golf courses and places where outdoor sports and activities are played — locker rooms, shower facilities and change rooms now can open provided there’s increased cleaning and disinfection.

As well, change rooms in clothing and retail stores can now open to 100 per cent capacity.

A look at the numbers

There now are 98 active cases in the province. A total of 642 people have recovered and 13 have died due to complications from the virus.

Three people — two in the south and one in Saskatoon — are receiving inpatient care. One person is in intensive care in the south.

Of the 753 cases, 452 are community contacts, 157 are travellers, 98 don’t have any known exposures, and 46 are being investigated by local public health.

There have been 312 cases in the far north, 185 from the Saskatoon area, 111 in the north, 80 from the Regina area, 53 in the south and 12 from the central region.

To date, 258 cases have been between the ages of 20 and 39, 237 have been aged 40 to 59, 130 have been in the 60-to-79 age range, 107 have involved people 19 and under, and 21 have been in the 80-and-over range.

There were 446 tests done Monday, the lowest number since there were 282 performed on June 9. To date, 61,226 COVID‐19 tests have been done in the province.