A target date for the start of Step 2 on the province’s reopening roadmap has been set: Sunday, June 20.
On a video on his Facebook page, Scott Moe, Saskatchewan’s premier, said the date is possible because the province has met another milestone in its vaccination program.”
“Over 70 per cent of Saskatchewan residents aged 30 and older have now received their first shot of vaccine,” he said. “That means the target date for Step 2 on our reopening roadmap will be Sunday, June 20, three weeks after Step 1 begins.”
Step 1 is set to begin on Sunday, May 30.
The province said health restrictions will be eased as follows:
- No capacity thresholds on retail and personal care services, must maintain an occupancy that allows for physical distancing;
- Restaurants and bars will have no table capacity thresholds, must maintain two metres of physical distancing or structural barriers between tables, dance floors and buffets remain closed;
- 150 person maximum capacity at event facilities, casinos, bingo halls, theatres, art galleries, libraries and recreational facilities, must maintain an occupancy that allows for physical distancing, restaurant guidelines apply at venues that serve food;
- Long-term care and personal care home residents may have up to four visitors indoors and nine visitors outdoors;
- No change from Step 1 at gyms and fitness facilities, primary, secondary and post-secondary education and childcare;
- All remaining restrictions on youth and adult sports will be lifted;
- Limit of 15 people at private indoor gatherings, including household gatherings;
- Limit of 150 people at public indoor gatherings and private and public outdoor gatherings; and
- Current province-wide masking mandate remains in place.
“The reason we are able to do this is because Saskatchewan people are getting vaccinated and the vaccines are working,” Moe said.
“Dr. [Saqib] Shahab [the chief medical health officer] reported that vaccines have been over 99 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 infections in Saskatchewan. Vaccines are driving down our case numbers, our hospitalizations, and they are making Saskatchewan safer.”
Step 3 can begin when 70 per cent of the adult population is vaccinated.
“Let's keep going,” Moe said. “Please keep doing everything you are doing to protect yourself and those around you. Keep following the public health orders and keep sticking it to COVID.”
