The latest major news from Premier Scott Moe’s daily COVID-19 update was the announcement that the second part of Phase Four of Re-Open Saskatchewan was coming Monday, June 29.
It means libraries, museums, galleries, movie theatres and live event theatres can re-open, but must follow enhanced physical distancing and other guidelines. Crowd sizes will be limited to 30 percent capacity of 115 people, whichever is lower.
Other activities included in Phase Four are still on hold. Re-opening dates for indoor pools, indoor rinks, indoor sports and activities, casinos and bingo halls will be announced over the next two weeks.
There are other changes. Effective June 26, parks and campgrounds are open to 100 per cent capacity for overnight stays and limited-term campsites. For outdoor sports and activities, games can resume if physical distancing can be maintained. Contact sports are now allowed, and spectators are also allowed at games, but must follow physical distancing guidelines.
Locker rooms, showers and change rooms can open for a variety of businesses and activities, and change rooms in clothing and retail stores can also now move to 100 per cent occupancy.
“Our goal continues to be to re-open as quickly as possible while doing so as safely as possible,” said Premier Moe. “I’m very happy to be making these opening announcements here today. But I will be much happier when everything is re-opened and I am able to quit making these re-opening announcements.”
Dr. Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer, also spoke about the case numbers. He acknowledged there had been an uptick in active cases in the last few days, including 11 new cases on June 23, 2020.
Dr. Shahab noted many of the cases now are secondary household cases linked to outbreaks in the La Loche area and the Maple Creek area.
“You do see for a few weeks secondary cases of chains of transmission,” he said. Dr. Shahab again emphasized the importance of maintaining physical distancing moving forward, and maintaining the two metre separation at family gatherings and at celebration and other events.
"As long as we can maintain that discipline, we will see cases and clusters here and there. i don't thing we can pretend that we won't, but as long as we see the case or cluster we can manage that, and it's up to people also to go forward and get tested if they're concerned or if they have any symptoms."
Dr. Shahab also had advice for those thinking of travelling across provincial borders during the summer months. He suggested staying "closer to home is better than going further away," but said those heading out of province should check to see what is permissible in the other province, and also plan ahead if someone does get symptoms.
