Premier Scott Moe and chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab announced Wednesday, March 25 there were 14 new cases of COVID-19 in the province. The government also limited public and private gatherings to no more than 10. On top of a further restrictions, Moe also said certain business services and stores previously allowable, were no longer able to stay open due to possibility of further spreading COVID-19. “Whether you are working in one of the businesses or services staying open, or whether you are working in one that is now closed and you are at home: each and every one of you need to know that you are doing your part,” said Moe during the press conference.
“We are asking a lot, but it is necessary and it will reduce the risk,” he added.
Moe said stores like clothing retailers, sporting good stores, vaping shops, pawn shops, travel agencies and jewellery stores will have to close. Moe added if you have a business that needs to close due to restrictions, you can make the choice to continue operations online, or as a delivery service, “As long as you are ensuring social distancing measures are in place for your employees and any of your customers.”
A list of allowable businesses has been updated and stretched across all aspects of industry in Saskatchewan. Moe said if business owners feel their businesses should stay open, the province is “Willing to listen.”
“We are willing to listen and we are willing to work through those on an industry by industry basis,” said Moe.
“We want to ensure that our families and our individuals in the province are safe, but we also want to ensure wherever we can we’re minimizing not only the impact of the economy, but in this case minimizing the impact to people’s personal lives,” he added.
Additionally, with four cases of reported community transmission and the federal government’s announcement for all Canadians to return home, Shahab reiterated if travellers who return home to self-isolate for the two-week recommended period, we should see no more cases of community transmission.
“We may see in addition to that household contacts of people who are returning, that does falter so that’s one group we’re obviously monitoring,” said Shahab.
Of the 86 cases, four are 19 years of aged and under, 69 are between the ages of 20 and 64 and 13 are 65 years and older. In addition, 57 per cent of cases are males and 43 are females. There are currently four hospitalizations in Saskatchewan related to COVID-19, two of which are currently in ICU.
