The province of Saskatchewan had announced six new presumptive cases of COVID-19.
It brings the overall total to 26 cases: eight are confirmed and 18 are presumptive. Of the 26, 24 are well enough to self-isolate at home; two are currently in hospital for medical reasons not related to the respiratory illness.
The six cases include an individual in their 20s was tested in Regina following travel to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; an individual in their 20s was tested in Regina following travel in the U.S; an individual in their 50s tested in Regina following travel to Jordan; two individuals in their 60s tested in Prince Albert following travel from Arizona; and an individual in their 60s was tested in Regina.
Of the latter case public health is compiling additional information on this case. Health officials are completing contact investigations on all cases.
New restrictions
With more cases comes an updated public health order from the Chief Medical Officer including, for the first time, mandatory self-isolation measures.
Premier Scott Moe has signed an order directing that all orders of the government and Chief Medical Health Officer must be followed, and that law enforcement agencies in Saskatchewan have the full authority to enforce those orders.
The orders are, said the Premier, to “protect the health and safety of Saskatchewan people and Saskatchewan families.”
According to the province’s news release issued Friday, the following restrictions, made in consultation with the Minister of Health, take effect immediately:
• Public gatherings are limited to no more than 25 people.
• Closure of all nightclubs, bars, lounges and similar facilities.
• In-person classes in all primary and secondary educational institutions both public and private are suspended.
• Visitors to long-term care homes, hospitals, personal care homes, and group homes shall be restricted to family visiting for compassionate reasons.
• Effective Monday, restaurants must close except for take out and delivery service.
• Closure of all recreational and entertainment facilities including fitness centers, casinos, bingo halls, arenas, curling rinks, swimming pools, galleries, theatres, museums and similar facilities.
• Closure of all personal service facilities including hair salons.
• Closure of dental, optometrist, chiropractic, registered massage therapy and podiatry clinics except when offering non-elective procedures.
• All daycare facilities are limited to maximum of eight children unless they can configure the facility so that a maximum of eight are kept in room and be in accordance with the Saskatchewan child care guidelines for care.
• All daycares co-located with a long-term care or personal care home that meet the above restriction shall be segregated with a private entrance so that there are no shared common areas with the home and no interaction between daycare children and residents of the facility.
Moe made clear “each and all of these orders are now mandatory, including the requirement to self-isolate after foreign travel. “
“I know, we all know, that the vast majority of Saskatchewan people are taking their personal responsibility seriously and they are following these order,” Moe said. “But a few are not.”
The premier expressed particular concern about those coming from from international travel who have chosen not to self-isolate.
“This is not a suggestion. It is not a guideline. It’s now the law.”
Financial help
In addition, Premier Moe announced financial support for Saskatchewan employers and employees hit by COVID-19 aimed at reducing costs for businesses and providing support to self-employed not covered by the federal support measures.
The plan, said Moe, is about “ensuring that Saskatchewan people have the financial support they need to get through this difficult time and that we all have jobs to go back to once this is over.” It is meant to dovetail with the federal plan announced earlier in the week.
The financial support plan outlines a number of mechanisms for reducing costs for businesses and individuals, providing support to self-employed individuals not covered by new federal support measures, and establishes a Business Response Team designated to support Saskatchewan businesses during this time of uncertainty.
A Self-Isolation Support Program has been created to be administered by the Ministry of Finance. This will provide $450 per week, for a maximum of two weeks or $900. It is targeted at Saskatchewan residents forced to self-isolate not covered by recent federally announced employment insurance programs and other supports. It is designed to ensure Saskatchewan residents are covered by a federal or provincial program.
It is meant to ensure that “no one is faced with choosing to work instead of protecting their family or community from COVID-19 by self-isolating,” said Moe. The program is pegged at $10 million and aimed at helping self-employed residents of Saskatchewan.
Effective immediately, said Moe, Saskatchewan businesses will be able to defer their PST due to cashflow concerns. Over the course of three-months, government estimates a potential deferral of up to $750 million in PST collections.
The premier said audit program and compliance activities have been suspended to allow businesses time to focus on the health and safety of their customers and staff, to reduce impacts to their business operations, and also minimize the spread of the virus through reduced audit travel.
The Crown Utility Interest Deferral Programs is waiving interest on late bill payments for up to six months.
Effective immediately, a six month Student Loan Repayment Moratorium has been put in place. This provides individuals with student loans immediate relief, and comes with a provincial investment of $4 million.
The Employment Standard Regulations have seen further amendments to:
Ensure that during a public emergency, businesses will not have to provide notice or pay in lieu of notice when they lay-off staffs for a period of 12 weeks or less in a 16-week period.
If an employer lays off employees periodically for a total of more than 12 weeks in a 16-week period, the employees are considered to be terminated and are entitled to pay instead of notice as outlined in the Act. This will be calculated from the date on which the employee was laid off.
These amendments, said the premier, create a balance for employers and employees where the difficult decision may be made to temporarily lay-off employees due to public health emergencies. The premier said in this circumstance, employees would have immediate access to new federal employment insurance programs, while keeping employers financially stable to ensure employees have a job to return to.
Finally, to provide support to Saskatchewan businesses the Government of Saskatchewan will establish a single window information webpage for businesses to access information and receive timely updates on provincial support initiatives. This will be complemented by establishment of a Business Response Team, led by the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, which will be a single point of contact with businesses to identify program supports relevant to particular businesses. Once the Business Response Team has been established, contact information will be communicated to the public on the Government of Saskatchewan COVID-19 website, and to local chambers of commerce for dissemination to chamber membership.
