The government of Saskatchewan announced on Wednesday that a number of new public health measures come into effect Friday at 12:01 am, in an attempt to slow down the increasing spread of COVID-19.

The new public health measures are as follows;

Restaurants and Licensed Establishments:

  • All bars, taverns, and nightclubs must limit seating to four per table. Tables must also be placed two metres apart if there is a barrier between them, and three metres apart if there is no barrier.
  • They must also maintain guest/reservation information for all patrons.
  • The curfew on liquor service also remains in effect.

Performance and Gaming Venues:

  • Capacity has been reduced to 30 for all casinos, bingo halls, arenas, live theatres, movie theatres, performing arts venues, and other facilities where the capacity is currently 150.
  • Venues must also have a separate area for food and beverage service. No food or drink may be in the activity area.

Indoor Public Event Gatherings:

  • Indoor public banquets, conferences, wedding and funeral receptions in public venues must be limited to 30 people. Food or beverages may not be present or served.
  • The maximum gathering size for private gatherings in homes remains at five. If your immediate family is five or more, you may not have additional visitors. Individuals such as recurring caregivers, support personal like therapists, nursing staff, and tradespersons are permitted, though they should keep a two-metre distance and be wearing a mask during the service.

Sports, Fitness, and Dance:

  • All team/group sports, activities, games, competitions, recitals, and practices are suspended. This includes amateur and recreational leagues for all age groups.
  • Athletes and dancers 18 years and under may continue practicing, conditioning, and skill training in groups of eight or less, as long as all are wearing masks, and maintain three metres of physical distancing.
  • Coaches are not included in the training group numbers as long as they wear a mask and maintain physical distancing.
  • Fitness activities and group fitness classes are allowed if groups are eight or less, with mask use and physical distancing in place.

Places of Worship:

  • All places of worship must reduce capacity to 30 people. This includes weddings, funerals, and baptism services. Food and drink are not allowed.

Mandatory Masking Expanded:

  • Mandatory non-medical mask use will be required during all indoor fitness activities, with aquatic activities being the only exception.
  • Mandatory non-medical masks have been extended to all students, employees, and visitors in a school and daycare, except while consuming food or drinks. Children age 0-2 are exempt, but children age 3-12 should wear a mask if they are able.
  • Employees and visitors in all common areas in businesses and workplaces must wear a mask, even if the area is not accessible to the public.
  • And all residents, employees, and visitors in all common areas in provincial and municipal correctional facilities must wear a mask.

Malls and Retail:

  • Retail businesses must enhance the expectation of mask use and mitigation measures, such as reduced traffic, directional flow signage, and hand sanitizer, through signage and staff training.
  • Large retail locations are required to limit customer access to 50 per cent capacity, or four square metres per person - whichever is less. This will affect all retail locations that are larger than 20,000 square feet, and 50 per cent capacity is determined by half of the specified fire-code capacity.
  • Mandatory masking posted must be present as well.