Reopening plan continues Monday; six new COVID-19 cases in Sask.

More of Saskatchewan’s businesses and leisure facilities are to reopen Monday.

In the second stage of Phase 4 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, indoor pools, indoor rinks, indoor sports and activities, and facilities that play host to performing arts — including music, dance and theatre — will be able to reopen.

They’ve been closed since March to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

The seating capacity in restaurants and licensed establishments also will increase Monday, although staff and customers must maintain two metres of physical distance. Those businesses were limited to 50 per cent capacity when they initially reopened.

As well, restaurants and bars once again will be able to allow the use of video lottery terminals (VLTs), pool tables, dartboards, arcade games and other recreation areas on Monday, provided physical distancing can be maintained.

Live entertainment in those establishments is targeted to resume July 16.

Casinos and bingos will be permitted to reopen July 9, while racetracks and rodeos are expected to reopen July 16. Guidelines for those facilities still are being developed.

The provincial government made the announcement Tuesday, when it also announced there were six new cases of COVID-19 in the province. That increased the total number of cases in Saskatchewan so far to 785.

Three of the new cases are in the far north, with two others in the north and one in the south.

Planning underway for post-secondary institutions

In a media release, the government said the province’s post-secondary institutions are making plans for the fall in conjunction with public health officials.

That information will be shared with staff and students in the near future.

Those institutions previously announced plans to offer online learning in the fall.

A look at the numbers

There were five more recoveries reported Tuesday, increasing that number so far to 684. A total of 13 Saskatchewan residents have died due to complications from COVID-19 to date.

There now are 88 active cases in the province, comprising 47 in the far north, 31 in the south, six in the north and four in Saskatoon. Neither Regina nor the central region has an active case reported.

Four people — two in the north, one in Saskatoon and one in the south – are receiving inpatient care. One person is in intensive care in the north.

Of the 785 cases, 473 are community contacts, 165 are travellers, 106 don’t have any known exposures, and 41 are being investigated by local public health officials.

The total includes 55 health-care workers.

There have been 327 cases in the far north, 186 from the Saskatoon area, 116 in the north, 80 from the Regina area, 64 in the south and 12 from the central region.

To date, 271 cases have been in the 20-to-39 age group, 249 have been between the ages of 40 and 59, 130 have involved people aged 60 to 79, 114 have been people aged 19 and under, and 21 have been 80 and over.

There were 444 tests performed in the province Monday, increasing the total to date to 65,940.

The government also announced it won’t be providing case numbers on statutory updates or weekends, opting instead to put out updates Monday to Friday. Numbers from the weekend will be provided Mondays.

More to come.