With over 70 per cent of residents over the age of 18 having received their first dose, and 69 per cent of all residents over the age of 12 having received their first dose, Saskatchewan is announcing that the full implementation of Step 3 of the Re-Opening Roadmap will occur on Sunday, July 11, according to information from the Government of Saskatchewan website.
That means that as of Sunday, July 11, all public health orders will be removed. This includes the removal of the province-wide mandatory masking order, and the removal of limits on events and gathering sizes.
"As we are now so close to the final threshold, we are able to announce that Step 3 will be fully implemented on Sunday, July 11," Premier Scott Moe said. "We are able to make this announcement because so many Saskatchewan residents have done their part by getting vaccinated, so I'd like to say thanks to Saskatchewan people. Over the past 15 months, Saskatchewan residents have diligently followed public health guidelines and restrictions, and over the past months they have followed through by getting vaccinated."
As of end of day on June 19, there were an additional 16,084 vaccinations administered in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 997,818.
concern can be found at http://www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-cases.
AstraZeneca option
On June 17, the National Advisory Council on Immunization updated their statement on recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccine, including recommendations for those who received AstraZeneca as a first dose. Saskatchewan will continue to allow residents the choice of receiving AstraZeneca as their second dose or an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer). There are no first dose AstraZeneca clinics planned at this time; all AstraZeneca second dose clinics will be offered through the SHA and residents seeking AstraZeneca as their second dose can book those appointments as clinics are available.
All vaccines approved in Canada are very effective in preventing serious illness. Individuals who have received two doses of any COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada will be considered fully vaccinated.
Daily COVID statistics
There were 60 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on June 20, bringing the provincial total to 48,441 cases.
The new cases are located in the following zones: Far North West, four; Far North East, one; North West, nine; North Central, four; Saskatoon, 27; Central West, one; Regina, nine; South Central, three; and South East, two.
One new death was reported in the 70 to 79 age group from the North West zone.
Recoveries total 47,135 and 743 cases are considered active.
There are 79 people in hospital. Sixty-seven are receiving inpatient care: Far North West, one; North West, nine; North Central, seven; Saskatoon, 27; Central East, two; Regina, 17; and South Central, four. Twelve people are in intensive care: North Central, one; Saskatoon, six; Central East, one; and Regina, four.
The seven-day average of new COVID-19 case number is 69 (5.7 per 100,000). A chart comparing today's average to data collected over the past several months is available at https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness/covid-19/seven-day-average-of-new-covid-cases.
Step Two now underway
Beginning June 20, Saskatchewan has entered Step Two of re-opening, with in-person gathering limits increasing across a number of sectors and for private gatherings. Private indoor gatherings will increase from 10 to 15 people. Note that the provincial masking mandate remains in place under Step Two.
More information on the changes within Step Two of the Roadmap to Re-Opening are available at www.saskatchewan.ca/re-open-roadmap.
Guidance for individual sectors has been updated and is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/re-open.
