In less than a week, the province will be lifting its masking and gathering limit restrictions.

In the weeks leading up to the re-opening, Dr. Kevin Wasko, a local doctor and physician executive with integrated rural health, has been explaining what residents can expect as Saskatchewan moves on from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He's reminding residents that as the restrictions lift, each business and individual will be moving at a pace that they are comfortable with.

"Even though public health restrictions are lifting and mandatory masking in public spaces has lifted, it doesn't mean that some businesses may not choose to still have those gathering and masking mandates in place in their own personal business. And people might choose to still wear masks in varying crowds or in indoor spaces and whatnot. Just because it's not mandated, doesn't mean it's not allowed."

Wasko added that Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities will be following a similar route, requiring more measures than the public mandate including screening and mandatory masking in order to protect health care workers and patients.

On the private business side, or in terms of residents, he hasn't heard if, or how many, will be choosing to maintain private health measures, and feels as though it will largely depend on different factors.

"I think it could very well depend on case counts in a particular geography at any given point in time. So what may be the case one day may evolve and change as our case counts change."

He says that as the province opens up, the basics still need to be followed; hand washing, remaining home if you are sick, and getting tested in order for contact tracing to prevent another outbreak.

Most importantly, he wants both residents and businesses to have some understanding that everyone is going about the reopening with their own level of comfort. 

"I know that there are very emotional sides on both sides of the masking debate. And that could inevitably lead to some conflict at some point in time. Somewhere, I hope that we can all understand that we all come to perspectives from a different point of view and different life experiences, and hopefully, we're understanding and tolerant of people who aren't sharing the same approach as we are."