Saskatchewan expanding list of places where proof of vaccination required

More Saskatchewan businesses will be asking for proof of vaccination starting Monday.

On Friday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency announced a new public health order would take effect Monday at 12:01 a.m., adding some businesses and retail outlets to the list of establishments that already need to see proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Either of those now will be required to get access to: Seated dining in all restaurants, including fast food restaurants; liquor manufacturers that handle retail liquor sales; and liquor stores with an integrated permit that also hold a liquor restaurant or tavern permit.

Proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test won’t be required for food pickup or delivery, at food courts or for entering a premises to use the washroom.

The health order continues to apply to non-essential businesses such as:

• Restaurants, including restaurants in hotels or other lodgings;
• Nightclubs, bars, taverns, and manufacturer hospitality suites, buses and other establishments and transportation licensed by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority for the sale and service of alcohol;
• Liquor stores that have been issued standalone retail store permits issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority; and,
• Cannabis stores that have been issued standalone retail store permits by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.

People will also have to show their proof of vaccine or a negative test at points of entry when “paying for, placing and picking up orders at liquor and cannabis stores that require it,” said Ken Dueck, executive director of the business response team.

Restaurants now will have the weekend to prepare.

“(They’re getting) a little bit of time to operationalize that,” Dueck said, noting fast food restaurants will now need someone at points of entry to check for proof of vaccination.

The health order also covers event and entertainment venues including:

• Conference centres, meeting rooms and banquet facilities, except when being used for the purposes of a court or tribunal proceeding;
• Theatres;
• Cinemas;
• Bingo halls, casinos and other gaming establishments;
• Concerts;
• Live-music venues;
• Fitness centres and gyms; and,
• Facilities hosting sporting events where tickets are required that have GST charged on the ticket.

The proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test requirement doesn’t apply to businesses or organizations including:

• Retail businesses including grocery stores;
• Businesses holding an integrated liquor retail store permit that do not also hold a tavern or restaurant permit issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority;
• Businesses holding an integrated cannabis retail store permit issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority;
• Places of worship (including weddings/funerals/wakes);
• Personal services, health care services, professional services;
• Public libraries;
• Hotels or lodging including self-serve food options located within the hotel or other lodging;
• Facilities hosting amateur sporting events, including youth athletics and recreational leagues;
• Private gatherings at public venues (weddings/funerals/wakes/meetings); and,
• Private gatherings at private residences.

Acceptable proof of vaccination includes a QR code/MySaskHealthRecord vaccine certificate either printed or on a person’s mobile device as a screenshot or in SK Vax Wallet, a printed hard copy of a MySaskHealthRecord vaccine certificate with or without a QR code, the wallet cards that were issued at the time of vaccinations, or a COVID-19 vaccination printout from Saskatchewan Health Authority Public Health.

People who don’t have proof of vaccination instead can show proof of a negative COVID test result from within the previous 72 hours. However, a self-administered, take-home rapid antigen test won’t be accepted.

As well, the Saskatchewan Health Authority isn’t testing asymptomatic individuals at its public testing sites, instead only testing symptomatic and other at-risk populations at those facilities.

Anyone who doesn’t have symptoms will be responsible for the cost of a test done by a private testing company.

Enforcing public health orders

The SPSA and the Ministry of Health are hiring people to help public health inspectors with the enforcement of the public health order.

“These personnel will not be conducting inspections but will assist in responding to complaints of non-compliance with Public Health Orders,” the SPSA said in a release.

“Once complaints are substantiated through investigation, members of this team may use their discretion to determine if a ticket will be issued or if education is enough to ensure that people are following the PHOs.”

More information is available by calling 1-855-559-5502.