The Government of Saskatchewan announced further measures and supports to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Northern Saskatchewan on April 30.
The announcement included further travel restrictions for the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District (NSAD).
Also, in this announcement, the government pledged to give immediate funding of $370,000 to target COVID-19 in the province’s far north. Moreover, additional funds will be provided to seasonal businesses from the Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment program, including northern outfitters.
“Our government recognizes the unique challenges that northern communities are facing in fighting the spread of COVID-19,” Premier Scott Moe said. “We are providing direct supports to northern communities and businesses to ensure the necessary resources are available, while imposing further restrictions to ensure the necessary steps are being taken to reduce the spread and flatten the curve in the north.”
After further consultation with northern leaders by Government Relations Minister Lori Carr, the province announced the introduction of tighter travel restrictions in the north of the province to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
An updated public health order had been issued by Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, to impose further restrictions.
These restrictions included the cessation of all non-critical travel (including those with primary residences) into and out of the NSAD, as well as restricting all non-critical travel between northern communities.
The NSAD is a large geographic area covering almost half of the province, but containing less than 4.0 per cent of the provincial population. Given the uniqueness of the north, case-by-case exemptions to this latest announcement were evaluated upon the request of a community.
