Businesses and services that are able to begin operation in this phase of the Government of Saskatchewan’s plan to re-open the provincial economy include:Guidelines for these businesses and services are included in this week’s update of Re-Open Saskatchewan. Although the guidelines are primarily directed toward business operators and service providers, members of the general public are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the guidelines in order to take an active role in their own health and safety, as well as to know what to expect when they visit businesses. The guidelines are available at www.saskatchewan.ca/re-open.
The increase means 15 children are allowed per facility or, in the case of larger facilities where the area permits, a maximum of 15 children in one defined area. These areas must be separate for each group and need to be separated by a barrier that can prevent children, toys and other items from crossing over.
Groups of children and the staff members assigned to them must stay together throughout the day and cannot mix with other groups. Groups must also be within the same space at the same time, including pickups and drop-offs, meal times, playtime and outdoor activities.
Children are restricted to attending a single facility to reduce transmission risks. All childcare facilities located within special care or personal care homes are subject to all general restrictions and must have private entrances and separate spaces so there are no shared common areas. There must be no interaction between children and residents of the home.
To date, applications have been received for 1,030 school-based child care centre spaces, out of an available 2,170 spaces, which represents capacity utilization of under 50 per cent.
The specific details of the guidelines can be found on the Government of Saskatchewan website at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/re-open-saskatchewan-plan/guidelines/child-care-facilities-guidelines.
Consultations will continue with faith leaders in the province to further develop the guidelines for places of worship.
In addition to these updates, changes have been made to the way that Phase 4 will roll out. A date has not yet been determined for this phase, but it will open in two parts to ensure the appropriate public health measures are in place, while allowing people to participate in seasonal and recreational activities.
In addition, the following are some updates on other work taking place to gradually re-open the province.
Graduation Celebrations
With COVID-19 bringing an end to the school year in Saskatchewan, schools and communities continue to look for ways to recognize their graduates. Innovative ways of celebrating this important milestone are encouraged, but all celebrations must comply with the current public health order and guidelines in the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan.