COVID-19 in Saskatchewan: The Week in Review, May 15

It’s the unofficial start to summer! The May long weekend is here! While it won’t be what we’re used to, there’s still a ton to do.

And when we come out of it, we’ll be able to go shopping and get the mops on our heads cleaned up.

There’s a lot of news from day to day during this pandemic. But 980 CJME has you covered. Each week we’re collecting the most important information, the cancellations and the good news stories you’re looking for to get you caught up. We’ll even leave you with a “week’s end” smile.

Saskatchewan seemed to right the ship again when it came to the COVID-19 case count. Recoveries beat out new cases every day, as efforts in La Loche got ahead of the virus for the first time in weeks. We even hit a point where there were ZERO active cases in Regina and southern Saskatchewan, though one has popped up at a Queen City hospital now.

There’s a lot to know about the province’s reopening plan, from fishing rules to which cabins you can and can’t go to. But there are ways to have fun, including hitting the links or getting a blast from the past at a drive-in theatre.

You still can’t gather in groups of more than 10, though. That rule led to a clash between people taking part in a First Nations’ sacred ceremony and the RCMP.

When it comes to good news, there’s a lot! The Snowbirds gave Saskatchewan a show, more baby bison were born just outside Saskatoon and people are still helping out and boosting morale any way they can.

Let’s jump into it.

The numbers

After a few weeks of the COVID-19 case count jumping up, recoveries took the spotlight again this week. Since last Friday, 46 new cases were detected while 78 people recovered. Almost all of Saskatchewan’s active cases are in the La Loche area, while there are only 11 active cases in the southern half of the province.

The premier and others are applauding La Loche and healthcare workers up there for all they’ve done to try and stop the spread. Part of that effort was to close the liquor store, which led to addictions counsellors being sent to the area to help people cope.

There are still a few problems, like the stigma that goes along with having the virus. That’s led to some people hiding from getting a test.

A lot more people are about to be able to get a test. Anyone who is leaving the house for work will be able to get a swab to figure out if they may be carrying the virus without any symptoms. So positive tests could go up, but it doesn’t necessarily mean more people are sick.

The numbers:

• 590 total cases
• 408 recoveries
• 6 deaths (unchanged)
• 176 active cases
• 6 in-patient hospitalizations
• 3 people in ICU

May Long Weekend

With the long weekend upon us, you might be wondering, “what can I do?” The answer is, quite a bit!

Golf courses opened province-wide on Friday, with a whole bunch of new rules to keep everyone physically distanced and to limit how many surfaces people are touching. That includes using a pull-cord to pull the ball out of the hole at some courses, and only allowing one person per golf cart.

Been out at the Royal Regina Golf Club all morning talking to golfers as they hit the course for the first time.

Many are just happy to get outside and have something to do during this pandemic.

Restrictions haven’t caused any problems for anyone. #yqr #Sask pic.twitter.com/cXyGJ7pUpW

— Britton Gray (@BrittonGray) May 15, 2020

Golfing not your style? You can head up to a cabin, as long as it’s south of the northern lockdown line. And yes, business owners north of that line are pretty unhappy about that. In fact, they’re planning a protest of the northern checkpoints next week.

BUT you might want to check with your favourite lake first. Some leaders say there won’t be a whole lot to do if you head there.

Looking to tell a tall tale about how big that perch you caught was? Make sure you’re limiting the number of people in your boat.

If you’re more into the silver screen for your escapism, drive-in theatres are opening up in some areas. Wolseley and Carlyle’s drive-ins will welcome carloads of families with some special rules in place, while Agar’s Corner just outside Saskatoon is putting together a “pop up” drive-in for the long weekend. Jubilee Drive-In at Manitou Beach won’t be showing movies until June though, when they normally open for the season.

Reopening Saskatchewan

Tuesday is going to be a BIG day. That’s when Phase 2 of the “Re-Open Saskatchewan” plan starts, allowing a bunch of businesses to open up.

Retail stores can swing the doors open, but you won’t be allowed to try on those jeans or that shirt.

You can finally get a haircut next week. Some hairdressers aren’t sure if they’ll open because of questions around personal protective equipment, but the ones who are opening are going to be slammed. We want to see everyone’s before and after pics!

Massage therapy, acupuncture and accupressure are also getting the green light on Tuesday.

With going back to work though, you might want to think about that abandoned office fridge. It’s been about two months since the lockdowns began, and that’s a long time to leave food.

Oh, and if you’re worried about going back to an opening workplace: a labour lawyer is saying you should tread carefully when it comes to refusing to work.

All of this doesn’t mean we get to gather in groups of 10 or more though. The premier is making that clear. After members of Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation raised concerns over RCMP coming to a sacred sun dance with more than 20 people at it, Moe was asked about whether there should be exemptions for First Nations. His answer? “The virus doesn’t care” who you are.

But FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron says the events will continue, and it’s not clear what will happen, because the federal government is not on the same page as Premier Moe.  It suggests there *could* be exceptions since sacred ceremonies were banned as part of a “dark stain” in Canada’s history.

Good news and helping hands

Is there any better news than this long weekend forecast? Temperatures in the mid-20s and blue skies every day!

That great weather got started early, and it made for quite the show from the Snowbirds in both Saskatoon and Regina. It seemed like everyone stepped out their front door to catch a glimpse of #OperationInspire.

You know who else is enjoying the great weather? Wanuskewin Park’s newborn bison babies! The “bison baby boom” in the past month has led to four new members and a second herd at the Indigenous site just north of Saskatoon.

(Wanuskewin Heritage Park)

Saskatchewan is still showing its generosity two months into this pandemic. A donation drive to send supplies up to La Loche had to double their goal after getting so much support. In Saskatoon, “Cheer Crates” were delivered to hundreds of families in need, giving them a big boost.

And we’re still making sure healthcare workers know we care! Both Saskatoon and Regina are getting out at shift change to cheer for them. For Regina it happens Friday’s at 7 p.m., while Saskatoon is going with Saturdays.

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark led the charge last weekend.

Earlier tonight at 7:00, Saskatoon Mayor @charlieclarkyxe thanked front-line workers by making as much noise as possible in front of his home.

Earlier in the week, Clark asked the rest of Saskatoon to join in on the gesture. #yxe #yxecc pic.twitter.com/QZ129b96pX

— brady lang (@BradyLangSK) May 10, 2020

And this is interesting: IF there is a CFL season, the Riders could play host to the entire western division as a “hub” for games.

Cancellations and general bummers

You know Saskatchewan usually has very busy summers, because somehow we’re still working through cancellations for events.

The biggest blow in central Saskatchewan was the news that the Saskatoon Ex won’t run for the first time in its 135-year history. Yes, that’s right: COVID-19 has taken our spudnuts away. This. Is. War.

In Regina, the Queen City Marathon is going “virtual.” We’re still not sure what that means, and more details are coming in the summer.

Shed a tear for music lovers. Shake the Lake won’t happen in 2020.

Here’s a bummer for university students: Both the U of S and U of R are sticking with online teaching in the fall. That’s got a lot of people re-thinking whether they want to start their university journey yet, or if they’ll skip a year.

Another bummer? Some people with COVID-19 symptoms refuse to self-isolate, to the point where police have to put them in jail!

It’s tough when you can’t get home in the middle of a pandemic. But, is it so bad when you’re stuck in Mexico?

Maybe it is. But we can all agree it really sucks to wait for surgery as long as Jeff DeDekker has.

Week’s end smile

We’ve heard of some special birthday parades lately. But the one our sister stations C95 and Rock 102 helped with for four-year-old Mason, who keeps beating the odds, was pretty special.