Saskatchewan has declared a state of emergency after the number of positive COVID-19 tests in Saskatchewan has doubled today from eight to 16, and Moose Jaw has its first case. 

No age or gender was given, but the individual was tested in Moose Jaw following travel from Vancouver. 

The demographic information on the presumptive cases is still being gathered, but three of the new cases were tested in Regina, three in Saskatoon, and one other was tested following close contact with a previously announced presumptive positive in Saskatchewan. 

“This is a critical time for all individuals and organizations to ensure that they are practicing social distancing, staying home whenever possible and absolutely staying home when you are ill, even with mild symptoms,” Saskatchewan Provincial Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said in a media release 

All persons returning from international destinations are required to self isolate for 14 days when they return to Canada. Public health officials request all individuals on Sunwing flights WG540 and WG496 of March 14 to self-isolate and actively monitor for symptoms.

Effective immediately are the following: 

  • Public gatherings larger than 50 people are prohibited
  • All restaurants, bars and event venues must limit their seating to 50 per cent of capacity or up to a maximum of fifty people, whichever is lesser.  All must be able to ensure social distance of one to two metres between customers.  Retail spaces including grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations are exempted from this policy but must have processes to maintain a one to two metre separation.
  • All gyms, fitness centres, casinos and bingo halls are ordered to close until further notice.
  • Residents are advised to limit any non-essential travel outside of Saskatchewan, with the exception of people who live in border communities and are commuting for work.
  • Any licensed restaurants and taverns in Saskatchewan will be permitted to sell alcohol as an offsale according to SLGA regulations indefinitely.
  • All crown utilities will implement bill-deferral programs allowing a zero-interest bill deferral for up to six months for Saskatchewan residents whose ability to make bill payments may be impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.
  • All Government of Saskatchewan ministries, agencies and Crown corporations will implement a phased-in work from home policy effective Monday, March 23, applicable to employees deemed non-essential.  This means that any employees able to work from home should do so immediately, while providing managers a period to plan for work-force continuity.