More details of Phase 3 provided; Sask. reports five new COVID-19 cases

Saskatchewan restaurants got a glimpse at their future Friday.

The provincial government’s Re-Open Saskatchewan plan was updated to include the guidelines for restaurants, cafeterias and licensed establishments that may want to reopen when Phase 3 starts. The target date for that phase to start is June 8.

The guidelines were included in Friday’s COVID-19 update, which showed the number of active cases in Saskatchewan has once again dropped below 100.

There were five new cases, increasing that total to date to 627. There were 12 more recoveries, raising that total so far to 521. Seven residents of the province have died to date.

There now are 99 active cases. The last time that number was under 100 was April 30, when it was 88.

A look at the guidelines

The government announced Phase 3’s target date on Thursday, but provided more details Friday.

Restaurants, bars and similar establishments will be limited to 50 per cent of capacity and must be configured in a way that allows at least two metres between dining parties. Where tables can’t be separated, a physical barrier has to be installed.

Tables are limited to a maximum of six people and larger groups will have to occupy more than one table.

Aisles must be wide enough to permit physical distancing and bar seating, waiting areas and payment lines also must provide adequate space.

Employees also have to maintain two metres of separation when possible. If that’s not possible, the government suggested measures such as:

• Staggering activities to limit the number of staff in a confined area during the same period;
• Altering shift and break times to minimize the number of staff working in close quarters;
• Using markings or dividers in the kitchen to ensure physical distancing;
• Considering the installation of directional arrows on the floor in the kitchen to control the flow of traffic; and,
• Wearing personal protective equipment.

The guidelines also laid out requirements for cleaning and disinfecting tables, removing common touch items from tables, and disinfecting menus or replacing them with digital menus or chalkboards.

Recreation areas within restaurants and bars — such as dance floors, VLTs, electronic games, dart boards, pool tables and karaoke — aren’t permitted to open. Live entertainment also isn’t permitted.

Buffets and self-serve food lines also remain closed, but cafeteria-style food facilities — where staff serve to customers — are allowed.

Gyms and fitness facilities also are able to reopen June 8.

Again, physical distancing is required and a strict cleaning and disinfecting regimen must be followed.

The facilities are urged to consider using a booking system that limits the number of people at a given time, thus allowing them to stay two metres apart.

Group fitness classes should only be offered if the participants can maintain physical distancing.

Showers, locker rooms, courts, saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms and similar group facilities are to remain closed.

More details about the guidelines can be found below.

A look at the numbers

Four of the new cases are in the far north and one is in the south.

Of the active cases, 85 are in the far north, six are in the northern region, five are in the Saskatoon area, one is in the Regina area, one is in the central region and one is in the south.

Of the total, there now have been 248 cases in the far north, 165 in Saskatoon, 110 in the north, 76 in Regina, 16 in the south and 12 in the central region.

There have been 349 cases involving community contacts (including mass gatherings), 140 travellers, 73 involving people without any known exposures, and 65 that still are being investigated.

The total cases have involved 223 people in the 20-to-39 age range, 190 between the ages of 40 and 59, 104 in the 60-to-79 age range, 92 involving people aged 19 or under, and 18 in the 80-and-over range.

Five people are in hospital, including three in intensive care in Saskatoon. Two people – one in Regina and one in Saskatoon — are receiving inpatient care.

There were 400 tests done Thursday, increasing the total to date in Saskatchewan to 42,843.

Advice for masks

With the Public Health Agency of Canada now recommending people wear non-medical cloth masks in community settings, the province offered some suggestions Friday.

Those include:

• Avoid touching the mask – if you must adjust it, wash your hands afterward.
• Masks must not be shared with others.
• Put on and take off the mask with clean hands using the ear loops or ties, being careful not to touch your face.
• Non-medical masks or cloth face coverings should be washed after each use.
• Do not use face coverings on children under the age of two.