The province is further restricting bars, restaurants, sports, places of worships, gambling and other venues as COVID-19 cases continue to remain high.
Effective Friday, “all restaurants and licensed establishments (bars, taverns, nightclubs) are limited to seat four at a single table,” reads the public health order.
“Capacity will be restricted to 30 people at all casinos, bingo halls, arenas, live theatres, movie theatres, performing arts venues and any other facilities that are currently supporting a capacity of 150 people.”
Indoor public gatherings such as wedding and funeral receptions will be limited to 30 people and that no food or beverages will be present or served. The same requirements are in place for places of worships including wedding, funeral and baptismal services.
Premier Scott Moe again defended the latest measures versus a short-term lockdown, stating he believes a lockdown is not needed, but that a balance of restrictions was the best way forward.
He said a lockdown would devastate the economy, but restrictions will minimize the impacts on people’s livelihoods. Masks are mandatory in all schools and day cares for staff and students.
Children aged 3-12 should wear a mask if able to.
All team sports are suspended, but youth under the age of 18 can practice in groups up to eight people.
And large shopping centers will have capacity reduced to 50 percent.
Moe implored people to adhere to the restrictions, similar to the spring where cases were low for months. He said there was no silver bullet to COVID-19, but that people must remain vigilant in practicing safety measures.
This is the third time this month that the Sask. Government has imposed COVID-19 restrictions, as the active case count in the province is above 3000 and the seven-day average of daily cases is 214.
There were 164 cases in the province Wednesday, including 18 in the Far North. One person in the Far North West is among 111 in hospital. There were 79 recoveries. These guidelines are in effect to Dec. 17.