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Bargain hunters got some good news from the Saskatchewan government Tuesday.
The updated version of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan includes guidelines for the immediate start of garage and yard sales, which had been prohibited due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Door-to-door canvassing and sales also can start up immediately.
As well, there are new guidelines for drive-in theatres (reducing the distance between vehicles to two metres from five metres), retail stores, libraries and places of worship (returned or donated items must be held for 24 hours, down from 72), fitness facilities (24-hour access is allowed) and campgrounds (laundry facilities can open).
Those announcements were made at the same time the provincial government reported eight new COVID-19 cases.
The new cases — three in the south, two in the far north, two in the central region and one in the Saskatoon area — increased the total in the province to date to 970.
There were 11 more recoveries reported Tuesday, hiking that total so far to 813. To date, 15 residents of the province have died due to complications from COVID-19.
The number of active cases stands at 142 — 60 in the central region, 46 in the south, 19 in the Saskatoon area, seven in and around Regina, six in the far north and four in the north.
There are 12 people in hospital. Nine individuals — including seven in Saskatoon, one in the south and one in the north — are receiving inpatient care. Two people are in intensive care in Saskatoon and one is in an ICU in the south.
New guidelines
The government said gathering sizes at garage and yard sales must follow the guidelines set out in current public health orders, and physical distancing is required.
The sales must be held by one household — group events are prohibited — and those operating the sales must sanitize items and put up signs encouraging social distancing.
“The onus (of safety) is on the person having it– obviously it’s not a formal business it’s a homeowner choosing to have a garage sale,” Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, said Tuesday.
“The onus is also on the person making a purchase.”
Shahab explained that, like when shopping in a retail store, everyone should take precautions to avoid COVID-19.
“Certainly if people want to use a mask, even though it’s outdoors that would be a good thing to do,” he said.
He encourages people to keep their distance and sanitize their hands before and after visiting a sale.
The government also offered advice regarding payment in the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, which can be found below.
As for door-to-door work, physical distancing must be maintained. There must be frequent hand-washing or sanitizing and workers can’t share pens, pencils or promotional materials with residents.
A look at the numbers
Of the total number of cases, 528 are community contacts,187 are travellers, 168 don’t have any known exposures, and 87 are being investigated by local public health officials.
To date, the total includes 58 health-care workers.
There have been 342 cases in the far north, 212 from the Saskatoon area, 124 in the north, 123 from the south, 87 from the Regina area and 82 from the central region.
There were 12 cases in the central region at the start of July. The caseload in the south has increased from 17 on June 1.
The total number now comprises 333 cases in the 20-to-39 age range, 304 between the ages of 40 and 59, 168 in the 60-to-79 range, 133 involving people 19 and under, and 32 in the 80-and-over range.
There were 733 tests reported Tuesday, ending the province’s streak of five straight days with more than 1,100 tests performed.
More to come.