On the afternoon of March 20th the Government of Saskatchewan confirmed six new presumptive COVID-19 cases in the province. Five of those cases have been linked to international travel, the sixth is still under investigation. Provincial Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said the investigation would continue for a day or two, at which point it could be declared Saskatchewan's first community transmission.

In the announcement of the new cases Premier Scott Moe announced a number of new measures that are designed to flatten the curve. The biggest one, the provincial government will use the powers granted from the state of emergency to give provincial law enforcement some new abilities in regards to isolation.

Law enforcement will have the ability to implement measures to encourage and ensure recent travelers isolate. Those that do not comply will face fines up to $2000, and in extreme cases violators could be detained.

Other immediate measures include:

  • Public gatherings of more than 25 people in one room are prohibited except where two metre distancing between people can be maintained; workplace and meeting settings where people are distributed into multiple rooms or buildings; and retail locations (ie. grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations).
  • The closure of all nightclubs, bars, lounges and similar facilities.  Take out of alcohol or food products so permitted with two metre distancing between customers and the delivery of alcohol or food products.
  • In-person classes in all primary and secondary educational institutions both public and private are suspended.
  • Visitors to long-term care homes, hospitals, personal care homes, and group homes shall be restricted to family visiting for compassionate reasons.

Other measures that will take effect on March 23 include:

  • The closure of restaurants, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, bistros and similar facilities.  Exceptions are take out with two metre distancing between customers during pick-up; drive through food services; delivery of food products; soup kitchens, not-for-profit community and religious kitchens with two metre distancing between tables. 
  • The closure of all recreational and entertainment facilities including fitness centers, casinos, bingo halls, arenas, curling rinks, swimming pools, galleries, theatres, museums and similar facilities.
  • The closure of all personal service facilities including tattooists, hairdressers, barbers, acupuncturists, acupressurists, cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, manicurists, pedicurists, suntanning parlours, relaxation masseuses, facilities in which body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services.
  • The closure of dental, optometrist, chiropractic, registered massage therapy and podiatry clinics except for non-elective procedures.
  • All daycare facilities are limited to maximum of eight children unless they can configure the facility so that a maximum of eight children are kept in room and be in accordance with the Saskatchewan child care guidelines for care.
  • All daycares that are co-located with a long-term care or personal care home that meet the above restriction shall be segregated with a private entrance so that there are no shared common areas with the home and no interaction between daycare children and residents of the facility.