Public health order amended, private indoor gatherings capped at 15 people

On a day when Saskatchewan reported another 34 cases of COVID-19, the province’s chief medical health officer has ordered a reduction in the maximum number of people allowed at private indoor gatherings.

In a media release Tuesday, the Ministry of Health said Dr. Saqib Shahab had amended the public health order on gathering sizes. Starting Friday at 12:01 a.m., private gatherings in homes will be limited to 15 people.

“We are seeing two trends which are significant. We are seeing transmission linked to gatherings — more than half of our cases in the recent week or so — but we are also seeing sporadic cases where people can’t really identify their exposure,” Shahab said during his COVID-19 update Tuesday.

The previous limit on attendees at private indoor gatherings was 30.

“We’re hearing many times people are getting together for a birthday party or other special occasions (and) it’s crowded. You just can’t fit 30 people inside a house,” Shahab said.

Saskatchewan has had eight straight days with double-digit totals of new cases, recording 206 cases in that span. The province’s total since March now stands at 2,174.

“We are seeing an upward trend. What trajectory that will take? Will it kind of rise and level off with some of the additional measures that we are announcing today? That is one option and it is up to all of us to see if that happens,” Shahab said.

Businesses such as restaurants and bars will not see any new restrictions in place at this point.

“Some of the transmission has happened in large gatherings or poorly organized gatherings so that’s a concern and that’s where there could be some further actions, including fines,” Shahab said.

“We also realized that while nothing is 100 per cent safe, we have seen for the most part restaurants, bars, gyms (and) places of worship have not resulted in large transmission events.”

Shahab said public health is having trouble with contact tracing because people are attending events with many people present.

He also continues to strongly recommend masks but isn’t making them mandatory.

“At the end of the day, it’s all of our responsibility to wear a mask in a public place. If stronger measures are required, they will be considered,” Shahab said.