COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan

By April 6, Saskatchewan had 253 cases and 81 recoveries. For the first time, the number of new recoveries (14) exceeded the number of new cases (4).[43] On April 8, the SHA released its preliminary modelling data, which had projected "low" and "upper-range" scenarios with between 153,000 and 408,000 cases respectively, and 3,075 to 8,370 deaths respectively.[44][45]

Seven new cases and recoveries were announced the next day.[46] The total number of cases continued to rise, reaching 289 on April 11, though the remaining active cases fell to 138—dropping for the first time below the number of recoveries (which rose to 147).[47] On April 13, Saskatchewan reported 14 recoveries and two new cases (totalling 300).[48][49] The next day, only one new case was reported, and nine new recoveries.[50]

On April 17, Shahab announced that the province was monitoring cases tied to long-term care facilities, including an "outbreak situation" in La Loche, a second staff member of one in Regina testing positive, and three residents of said home with symptoms (which later tested negative).[51][52] A curfew between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. was ordered in the village on April 18.[53][54] On April 21, health officer for North Saskatchewan Rim Zayed stated that the cases in La Loche were "under control".[54] The SHA announced plans to release updated modelling.[45]

On April 23, Premier Scott Moe gave a televised address (the first such address by the Premier of Saskatchewan since Roy Romanow's tenure), announcing that the province had "flattened the curve", and that he and Shahab would unveil a five-stage process to "gradually and methodically" lift restrictions on commerce and services. He explained that the province had to balance the risks of doing so too quickly (which could cause the virus to spread again), and doing so too slowly (which could cause "permanent damage to the livelihoods of thousands of Saskatchewan people"), and that the province was "looking at ways to increase testing and contact tracing in the days ahead".[10][55][45] Moe also stated that Saskatchewan was 70% below the national average of cases per-province, and hospitalizations and deaths were 90% below average.[10]

In late-April, the outbreak in La Loche began to intensify, with a major spike in active cases in the "Far North" zone (Division No. 18).[56][57] On April 24, Saskatchewan saw its largest number of new cases since April 8, with 10 (offset by 10 recoveries). In response to the outbreak, Premier Moe stated that despite its overall progress, the province "can expect to experience isolated outbreaks such as this".[56] On April 27, the province announced twelve new cases and a fifth death—an 83-year-old man who was a resident of a long-term care home in La Loche. All but one of the new cases were situated in the Far North zone. Northern Health Officer Zayed stated that almost all of the 29 new cases in La Loche had been traced to a case from northern Alberta.[58][59]

The initial cases were eventually traced to travel from the Kearl Oil Sands Project in northern Alberta. A health officer of the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority cited that travel between communities was common in Northern Saskatchewan, and that overcrowded living conditions in First Nations communities may have exacerbated its spread.[11]

Ryan Meili, leader of the opposition Saskatchewan NDP, called for more action to be taken in the northern region, including "mobiliz[ing] the resources necessary to test everyone in La Loche and Clearwater River Dene Nation". Tracy Zambory, head of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, similarly argued that "we're expecting a population that hasn't gotten much help in the past to suddenly understand and follow all these rules".[59]

The SHA released updated modelling on April 28, estimating an effective reproduction number of 0.7 per-case, with the estimated total cases reduced to 254,756, and 3,050 deaths.[60] The next day, Saskatchewan announced 17 new cases, and one new death in the Far North region. Eleven of the new cases were situated in La Loche, and four in Lloydminster — tied to a cluster of 13 at Lloydminster Hospital.[61][62] Moe therefore announced that both cities would be excluded from the first phase of the lifting of economic restrictions (Re-Open Saskatchewan) on May 4.[63] Although the outbreak was declared the prior Sunday, it was not publicly announced until three days later; Medical Health Officer of the North zone Mandiangu Nsungu explained that "the hope is always that you will control the situation because there is also a balance between sending an alarm to the community too soon. You have to balance that with the negative impact that may result in terms of panic. You have to find the right time to make that announcement in such a way that you actually do not panic the population for not much benefit."[64]

On May 1, Saskatchewan surpassed 400 cases in total with its largest single-day increase since March 28, with 19 in the Far North zone and four in the North zone within the Lloydminster area.[65] An outbreak was also declared at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert, due to a patient having been there for multiple days for unrelated procedures before testing positive on April 30. A previous test and verbal assessment upon the patient's arrival on April 21 had come back negative. There was no evidence of transmission within the hospital.[66] An outbreak was also declared in Beauval, Saskatchewan.[67] 12 new cases were reported on May 3.[68] On May 4, the province announced 34 new confirmed cases—its largest single-day increase in cases to-date, with all but five being within the Far North zone. Premier Moe cited the increased number as evidence that "increased testing in that area is working". SHA CEO Scott Livingstone stated that the positive case at Victoria Hospital was tied to La Loche.[69]

On May 5, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Theresa Tam stated that the outbreak in North Saskatchewan was "of concern", due to its remote communities and indigenous populations.[70] 20 new cases were announced, with 18 in the Far North zone, all primarily confined to the northwest (with 5 in La Loche). Due to an employee testing positive, an outbreak was declared at a dairy factory in the Saskatoon zone.[71] 25 new cases were announced the next day, surpassing 500 in total, with all but 3 being in La Loche. A staff member at Meadow Lake Hospital also tested positive.[72] On May 7, the outbreak at Lloydminster Hospital was deemed stable, and the city was given clearance to enter phase one of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan on May 11.[73] With 15 new cases, the Far North zone surpassed the Saskatoon zone as having the most individual cases out of all regions defined by the SHA.[74] On May 9, the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority suspended all alcohol sales and distribution in La Loche for two weeks in order to discourage gatherings.[75]

On May 17, the La Loche Health Centre outbreak was declared inactive, as 28 days had passed without new cases directly associated with it.[76] On May 20, Saskatchewan announced 21 new cases (16 in Far North) and its seventh death, a patient of the North region in their 60s.[77] On May 26, Saskatchewan announced one new death in the Far North—a woman in her 50s—and no new confirmed cases.[78] By June, the number of daily cases had begun to subside once more, although two new deaths were announced in Far North on June 8.[79]

On June 15, 18 new cases were reported, with 13 in the Far North attributed to a wake and funeral in Clearwater River Dene Nation on June 10 and 11. Shahab warned that COVID-19 was still in the province, and that all residents needed to continue taking precautions to reduce the spread of the virus.[80][81]

On July 16, La Loche reported that it no longer had any active cases.[82]

On June 17, an outbreak was declared in two Hutterite colonies in the RM of Maple Creek. 14 cases were initially tied to this outbreak.[83] The next day, Shahab stated that the province was working with officials in Alberta to investigate possible ties to inter-provincial travel; the Spring Valley Hutterite Colony in southern Alberta stated that several colonies from Saskatchewan had attended a funeral service it had held for three teenagers who had drowned in a boating accident.[84][85][86]

On June 21, Saskatchewan announced 20 new cases — the largest in nearly a month. 18 of these cases were attributed to the outbreak.[87] The SHA announced that it was working with the Hutterian Safety Council (HSC) to facilitate communications and testing efforts within local colonies under its oversight (including those in Saskatchewan and Alberta).[85] In a joint statement on June 22, both groups noted that there had been a false sense of security among some colonies due to their isolated structure, and that "the unfortunate misunderstanding has taken root that positive COVID-19 tests would lead to an economic shutdown of their communities".[86] On June 23, nine of the 11 new cases announced on June 22 were deducted from Saskatchewan's total case count due to them being from out-of-province residents.[88]

Beginning July 1, 2020 due to a decrease in new cases, the province began to only release new case numbers on weekdays, with case numbers on weekends and statutory holidays held over to the next business day.[89][90] On July 2, Saskatchewan's 14th death (in the Far North zone) was announced.[91] After an outbreak emerged in the southern community of Warner, Alberta, Alberta Health Services stated that it was investigating whether an exposure may have occurred at the aforementioned funeral.[84][92] On July 7, the province announced its 15th and youngest death to-date, a man in their 20s from the North zone.[93]

On July 13, the province announced that there had been a total of 56 new cases since Friday (2 on Saturday, 23 on Sunday, 31 on Monday). It was stated that the majority of these new cases were in the southwest and west-central regions of the province, listing a series of 11 regional municipalities (unlike previous cases, where the province refused to release such specific details). The SHA stated that it was working with local Hutterite communities to perform additional testing and contact tracing in the affected areas, but did not specifically say how many cases were related to the previous Maple Creek outbreak beyond that they were tied to "communal living conditions" and "active case finding", and about 10 were tied to "sporadic events and contacts".[94][95][96]

On July 15, the SHA warned of an "emergent situation in the southwest and central west areas of the province", including Swift Current and surrounding rural municipalities, with a heightened risk of public transmission.[97] In response to public concern, and criticism by the opposition NDP amid the spike, Premier Moe announced that the SHA would return to releasing updates on weekends and holidays.[90]

On July 16, Saskatchewan announced 42 new cases, its largest single-day increase to-date, surpassing 900 cases in total, and going back above 100 active cases.[98] On July 22, Saskatchewan surpassed its single-day record with 60 new cases. 50 of these cases are within the South zone; 48 of these were tied to Hutterite colonies in western Saskatchewan, and all but 5 were within a single colony in Lawtonia. The province stated that there were currently 17 Hutterite colonies with active cases, and that it was working with the colonies to implement localized restrictions on non-essential travel.[99][100] On July 28, the HSC displayed concerns over the SHA's identification of specific colonies with COVID-19 cases, citing that its specific references to the group or euphemistic language had created a negative stigma.[101]

The province reached a new peak of 322 active cases on July 29.[12] As of July 30, Saskatchewan had the highest rate of new cases per-capita out of all provinces over the past seven days.[102] That day, Saskatchewan announced its 18th death, 38 new cases, and 55 new recoveries. Premier Moe stated that although most did, there were still some colonies that had not cooperated with the province's guidance.[103]

The outbreaks subsided in late-August 2020; with an increase in the number of new recoveries, by August 28 Saskatchewan had the lowest number of active cases per-capita in Western Canada, and the lowest seven-day average per-capita outside of Atlantic Canada.[12]

On September 2, health officials reiterated their discouragement of travel outside of Saskatchewan, citing increasing cases in Alberta and Manitoba.[104] Premier Moe stated that Saskatchewan was working with the federal government to possibly support the national COVID Alert Exposure Notification app.[105]

As of September 16, 21 new cases in Saskatoon were linked to a gathering on September 13.[106]

In late-September, outbreaks were declared in Yorkton due to increased community transmission. On October 1, the SHA restricted access to long-term care homes and hospitals in the area.[107]

On October 7, the SHA declared a multi-jurisdictional outbreak due to six cases tied to events held at Full Gospel Outreach Centre in Prince Albert from September 14 through October 4, with at least 100 contacts identified "from multiple areas across the province". The SHA stated that this outbreak was expected to lead to a spike of cases in the North and Far North zones, and advised attendees of the events to self-isolate and contact local health officials if they did not comply with public health guidance while attending.[108][109][110] The church was fined $14,000 ($10,000 fine and a $4,000 victim surcharge) for violating health orders issued pursuant to a provincial state of emergency.[111]

The province announced 34 cases — its largest increase since July 30 — on October 10, and stated that 13 of the current active cases in the north were tied to this outbreak.[112] This was surpassed on October 12 with 48 new cases, with the province citing that public and private gatherings had been a factor in these increases.[113] On October 13, citing a "dramatic increase" in cases, Shabab announced that the number of participants in private gatherings at homes would be restricted to 15 people effective October 16.[114]

By October 16, 79 cases had been attributed to the Full Gospel Outreach events. Shahab stated that there had been an increasing number of cases among younger residents, and that the province was taking steps to improve its communications strategy to target teens and young adults via social media platforms. He also stated that the province did not necessarily plan to reintroduce further restrictions unless the province had 60 cases per-day.[115] On October 17, the province surpassed 326 active cases, its highest to-date.[116]

On October 19, the province announced its largest number of new cases to-date, at 66. The majority of these cases were reported to be in the Saskatoon and North Central (including Prince Albert) area, and it was stated that many of the new Saskatoon cases had been traced to bars and nightclubs in the area. The SHA issued an advisory regarding possible exposure at the Divas Nightclub in Saskatoon on October 9, the same night that a video was recorded showing defiance of social distancing on a dance floor at the location.[117][118]

On October 23, it was stated that at least 37 cases had been linked to an exposure at the Longbranch country bar in Saskatoon (which had been the subject of possible exposure on October 8, and had earlier promoted the addition of plexiglass-enclosed "Redneck Dance Cubes" for groups as a workaround to a prohibition on dance floors). Shahab stated that the province was "not currently at a point where we can look at slowdowns or lockdowns", unless the number of cases continues to intensify.[119][120] On October 24, the province surpassed its daily record with 78 new cases, including 33 in Saskatoon and 21 in Regina. At least 47 cases had been tied to the Longbranch, and 22 to Divas.[121]

On October 27, it was reported that Saskatchewan had the fourth-highest rate of new cases per-capita among Canada's provinces and territories.[122]

On November 3, a mask mandate for indoor public spaces was announced for Prince Albert, Regina, and Saskatoon, as well as a further reduction of the maximum number of participants in a private home gathering from 15 to 10.[123]

Saskatchewan reported new deaths for three consecutive days from November 7 to 9. Active cases exceeded 1,000, while the province set a new single-day record of 190 new cases on November 9.[124][125] On November 12, with hospitalizations reaching 49 and its sixth consecutive day of over 100 new cases, the SHA stated that the province would announce "additional public health measures" on November 13.[126] NDP Leader Meili called for Premier Moe and the provincial government to "act with sufficient force" to prevent a second lockdown, including a province-wide mask mandate, and cooperation with officials in Alberta and Manitoba.[127]

On November 13, Saskatchewan announced a number of new health measures, including an extension and expansion of the mask mandate to include all communities with a population above 5,000.[128] The next day, Saskatchewan announced its largest number of new cases to-date, at 308; the SHA stated that the larger increase was the result of snowstorms earlier that week, which affected the number of tests performed and delayed the laboratory delivery of samples.[129]

On November 17, as the province surpassed 2,000 active cases with 240 new cases (its second-largest increase to-date), and reached 71 hospitalizations, Premier Moe announced additional measures—described as a "significant one-month slowdown". Moe stated that he wanted to avoid a lockdown (as in Manitoba), as it would impact the economy and jobs. Under the measures, the mask mandate would be extended province-wide on November 19. In addition, the maximum number of participants in private at-home gatherings would be further-reduced to 5, and visitation of long-term care facilities would again be restricted. Moe hoped to loosen these measures in time for the holiday season if they are effective at slowing the heightened rate of new cases, and explained that "we have too many new cases, we have too many in intensive care, and we need to do what we can to get these numbers down." The province also stated that it was consulting with athletics organizations, gym owners, the hospitality industry, and religious leaders on enhancements to existing guidelines.[130][17][131]

Updated modeling was released on November 19, projecting in a best-case scenario (where 60% of residents complied with the wearing of face masks, 20% participated in weekly social gatherings of five people, half the population worked from home, residents only visited grocery stores weekly, and business at bars and restaurants was one quarter of historic levels) that there would be 34 additional deaths and 4,830 additional cases over the next six months. Shahab urged continued compliance with government health orders and guidance, as "It’s not just a few of us that need to do our part. It’s all of us."[132] Health Minister Paul Merriman reported that contact tracing was becoming increasingly difficult in Saskatoon, requiring federal assistance, and warned that "the pandemic will only end when we have widespread access to a safe and effective vaccine".[132][133]

Another single-day record was set on November 21, with 439 new reported cases, hospitalizations reaching 93, and the seven-day rolling average at 203.[134] The province stated that case counts could continue to fluctuate due to winter weather and other logistical issues causing delays in the delivery of test samples.[135] Moe stated that the province was continuing to consider additional measures.[134] On November 22, in response to an interview with Premier Moe on The Roy Green Show where he defended his decision to only do so as a last resort, Meili called for a three-week lockdown. He argued that "[Moe] doesn't have a good understanding of what's going on. He's in over his head and he's making the wrong choices and we're all going to pay for it." [136]

On November 24, the SHA released data showing that sports and indoor recreation (25%) and gatherings (17%) were the largest known sources of recent infections out-of-home.[137] On November 25, it was announced that capacity restrictions for indoor gatherings and recreational facilities would be tightened, and that the province would mandate the suspension of all group and team sports activity from November 27 through December 17. Shabab stated that cases tied to sports were becoming "frequent" (especially in children's sports), and that he had concerns that they were being imported into schools and workplaces.[15]

Transmission within Saskatchewan's prison system was also determined; on November 26, 72 of the 299 new cases were among inmates (68) and staff of the Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre (SPCC). It was therefore announced that the SPCC would redirect all new inmates to either Prince Albert or Regina, and that they will be tested for COVID-19 before arrival. Masks also became mandatory for all inmates at Saskatchewan corrections facilities.[138]

By December 3, 2020, the province had surpassed 4,000 active cases. The SHA announced plans to "slow down" some of its services (particularly diagnostics, some elective surgeries and home care) and redeploy 588 of its full-time workers in order to meet demand, citing models projecting major increases in cases and hospitalization within the next two weeks.[139] On December 8, 2020, the province recorded a single-day record of six new deaths.[140]

On December 9, 2020, the SHA announced plans to begin a phased rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, beginning with the Pfizer‑BioNTech COVID‑19 vaccine (approved by Health Canada earlier that day), and initially targeting health care workers and high-risk populations. Shahab stated that residents would be able to "get closer to our normal routines" once mass immunization is achieved, but that in the meantime, they would have to continue following all public health orders.[141] The same day, the SHA declared an emergency situation at the Parkside Extendicare long-term care facility in south Regina due to a "severe, widespread outbreak" among residents and staff, with 11 deaths, 149 confirmed cases among residents, and 57 among employees. To assist in managing the outbreak, the SHA took over day-to-day operations of the facility through January 15, 2021.[142]

On December 14, the province announced new restrictions on social gatherings (limiting public outdoor gatherings to 10 people, and prohibiting any private gathering involving people from outside of the immediate household) taking effect December 17, the closure of casinos and bingo halls on December 19, and tightened capacity restrictions for retail stores taking effect December 25. These orders, as well as the orders effective since November 17, would be in effect through at least January 15, 2021.[16]

By December 18, the death toll of the Parkside outbreak increased to 21. 25 residents of the home were transferred to Regina's Pioneer Village care home, where 19 tested positive and one died. Livingstone cited factors such as outdated ventilation systems, four-bed rooms and low staffing levels as having increased the impact of the outbreak; these had been long-term issues at the facility even before the pandemic, with a 2019 inspection report stating that Parkside "[did] not meet current standards of care or resident and family expectations for a home environment".[143][144]

On January 4, 2021, Minister of Highways Joe Hargrave announced his resignation, after criticism over a recent trip to Palm Springs, California to finalise the sale of a home there. Hargrave had apologized for the trip, explaining that it had been approved by the Premier, and that "my decision to travel was an error in judgement at a time when so many people have had to make sacrifices during the pandemic." The NDP questioned whether the travel was essential, especially after the December 31 resignation of Ontario's Finance Minister Rod Phillips amid a similar controversy, but the Saskatchewan government stated that it did not plan to remove Hargrave from office. Meili argued that "[Premier Moe's] telling the people of Saskatchewan one thing, demanding one thing of Saskatchewan people, but doing something very different when it comes to his own cabinet members." [145][146]

As of January 11, Saskatchewan had reached its peak of hospitalizations and daily new cases.[147] On January 12, the existing restrictions amended December 14 were renewed through January 29, with no changes.[148] Saskatchewan's seven-day rolling average peaked at 321 cases per-day.[149] As of January 13, Saskatchewan had the highest number of new cases per-capita nationwide.[150] On January 15, the province reported that at least 56 cases had been tied to a restaurant in Saskatoon.[151]

On January 23, Premier Moe criticized a group of individuals that had harassed the Chief Medical Officer by participating in a "misguided protest" outside of his personal home. He stated on Twitter, "To those that did this - you should be ashamed of yourselves and your actions. After months of spending virtually every waking hour working tirelessly to protect the health and well being of Saskatchewan people though this pandemic, this is the last thing Dr. Shahab deserves."[152] On January 26, the existing restrictions amended December 14 were renewed through February 19, again with no changes, with Premier Moe citing that the seven-day rolling average had been seen a gradual decrease.[149]

A study between November 2020 and January 2021 by the University of Saskatchewan's Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), found that 67% of 1,500 residents surveyed did not believe the current provincial health orders were sufficient.[153] January 2021 accounted for nearly half of Saskatchewan's COVID-19-related deaths to-date.[20]

On February 2, 2021, the SHA announced that Variant of Concern 202012/01 (the "UK variant") had been detected in two COVID-19 positives in the Regina area originally tested in mid-January, including a person that had recently returned from the United Kingdom, and a close contact. The patients were no longer infectious, and there was no evidence of further transmission. In the wake of the discovery, Premier Moe and Chief Medical Officer Shahab emphasised adherence to the current provincial health orders, but it was stated that officials were evaluating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on health care and public health orders.[21][154] One more case of the UK variant was reported by the SHA on February 4, a resident of Saskatoon who had recently returned from Southeast Asia.[155]

Citing concerns over the potential of an impending outbreak in the province, Premier Scott Moe announced on March 12 that he would not pursue a snap provincial election. Saskatchewan's general election was held as scheduled on October 26, 2020.[156]

On March 13, following the second presumptive case in the province, the Saskatchewan government announced restrictions on gatherings of more than 250 people in contiguous indoor space, as well as gatherings of more than 50 people if they include participants who had recently travelled internationally.[157][158] Exceptions are permitted for retail shops.[159][160] An exception for faith-based organizations was removed March 16.[159] The government sharply reduced inter-provincial and international travel by any provincial employees on government business. It also provided that provincial employees who have travelled outside the country, whether on government business or personal travel, must self-isolate for 14 days upon their return.[160]

On March 17, the government announced that it was delaying the introduction of the provincial budget, because the government revenue forecasts underlying it were no longer reliable, in light of the current situation. The Government would announce the planned spending, including for the health care sector, which would see an increase in funding.[161] The same day, the Legislature passed amendments to provincial employment law, to provide unpaid job security to employees during the pandemic. The amendments passed with the support of both parties.[162] The next day, the Legislature adjourned its spring sitting, with the consent of the Opposition.[163]

Saskatchewan declared a provincial state of emergency on March 18, which included plans for shifting all provincial government entities and crown corporations to remote work by March 23, authorizing the SHA to "redeploy nurses and other staff and ensure medical supplies and personal protective equipment are available when needed and reduce risk of further exposure to our care providers and patients", and advising against non-essential travel outside of the province.[2][3][164] The province also began to institute restrictions on non-essential commerce (including ordering the closure of all fitness facilities, casinos, and bingo halls),[165][164] and banned gatherings of more than 50 people.[2][164] However, the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU) says the province was not following its own recommendations for remote work among its own employees.[166]

On March 20, Premier Moe signed an order making public health orders issued pursuant to the state of emergency enforceable under provincial law, with violations punishable by fine of up to $2,000 for individuals, and $10,000 for businesses, plus victim surcharge.[167][168] Beginning March 23, gatherings of 25 people or more were prohibited unless all patrons were capable of maintaining appropriate social distancing.[169][170][171] All art galleries, museums, and other recreational, entertainment, and personal service facilities were ordered closed, and certain types of medical clinics (chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, and registered massage therapists) were restricted to non-elective appointments only. Restaurants, bars, and nightclubs were restricted to take-out and/or delivery service only. Bars and nightclubs could only offer take-out if customers were capable of maintaining appropriate social distancing.[169][170][171]

On March 26, all gatherings were limited to 10 people,[172][173] and the province ordered the closure of all "non-allowable business services" to the public. Examples of "non-allowable business services" included but were not limited to ATV, boat, and snowmobile retailers, clothing, shoe, accessory, and jewelry stores, electronics, entertainment, and toy stores, flower shops, book, gift, and stationery stores, sporting goods stores, pawn shops, and travel agencies.[172] On April 1, the state of emergency was extended.[174] On April 18, the province released guidelines on the conduction of drive-in church services.[175]

On April 13, amidst the number of new cases trending downward, Premier Moe announced that he would begin consultations with the Chief Medical Officer on plans to gradually restore normal commerce and services, with plans to release more information as early as the following week if new cases in Saskatchewan remain steady. He warned that these proposals would depend on a "comprehensive and robust testing and contact tracing plan", and that this would have to be done in a cautious manner, since "there is no magic switch that we can flip that sends everything back to normal overnight", and "we may not be able to move on some areas for a number of months, or until we get a vaccine", since the province was "only one outbreak away from interrupting those numbers".[48][49]

The province unveiled its "Re-Open Saskatchewan" plan on April 23, which consists of five phases with a gradual lifting of economic restrictions, and guidelines for specific industries to implement as the phases progress.[176][177][178] All phases are subject to continued practice of appropriate social distancing, and other industry-specific guidelines and requirements issued by the province (such as enhanced cleaning protocols).[176][177][178]

Government recommendations also remain in force indefinitely, such as those regarding personal hygiene, cleaning and disinfection protocols by businesses and public venues (especially on high-touched surfaces), use of protective equipment where applicable, remote work whenever possible, advisories against non-essential travel outside of Saskatchewan (including within Canada), and protective measures for vulnerable populations.[176][177][178]

Shahab estimated in June 2020 that restrictions might not be fully lifted for at least a year.[179] He stated that there were no plans to reintroduce a "lockdown" in the event of a prospective second wave, as he expected "small clusters" of cases to continue emerging over time, and that there were plans for the province to shift its attention to promoting the use of protective equipment and continued social distancing. He felt that Saskatchewan's residents had gone "above and beyond" his expectations in their compliance with health orders.[180]

On July 27, Premier Moe stated that he had not ruled out eventually mandating the wearing of face masks when social distancing is not possible, on either a regional or provincial basis. He noted that the "conversation" had been "escalating" nationwide, and that the province would "really need to be very careful with the public health guidelines and recommendations" once colder weather prompts more people to spend time within enclosed spaces.[181][182]

On August 7, the temporary regulations allowing lawyers to remotely witness the signings of documents such as power of attorney declarations and wills were made permanent, in an effort to "increase access to the justice system through the use of technology."[183]

The resumption of procedures at SHA facilities are on a separate timetable:[190] on May 5, the SHA announced a four-phase plan that began May 19 with increased availability of primary care, surgeries, and diagnostic imaging.[191] In order to handle potential surges tied to Phase 2, the emergency departments of 12 rural community hospitals were temporarily closed so that their staff may be reassigned to larger facilities, with the affected facilities converted to offering an "alternative level of care".[192] In June, the SHA announced plans to restore service at eight of these facilities, subject to status of the region and other factors.[193][185]

New cases, infection patterns (including management of cases imported from outside of the province), and the efficiency of contact tracing will be monitored by the government. The timetable for entry into phases 3, 4, and 5 will be dependent on the performance of the first two, and the province may roll back these decisions if needed.[178][177][176] On May 21, Moe tentatively announced that Phase 3 would be implemented on June 8, but that this target could vary by region, especially if they are "experiencing some challenges". It was also announced that the limit on participants in outdoor gatherings would be increased to 30 rather than 15 as originally announced (indoor gatherings would be capped at 15 until Phase 4).[186]

Most of Saskatchewan entered Phase 3 on June 8. La Loche was given authorization to enter Phase 2.[185] On June 16, it was announced that the first stage of Phase 4 would be implemented on June 22, allowing other forms of outdoor recreation facilities and sports to resume. On June 23, it was announced that portions of the second stage of Phase 4 would begin June 29, allowing indoor galleries, libraries, museums, and cinemas to open. Indoor recreation facilities, including sports, as well as casinos, were to be reopened at a later date within the next two weeks. Guidelines and requirements were also modified to mandate the wearing of face masks by employees of restaurants, gyms, and personal care facilities [188][194][179]

On June 30, it was announced that indoor sports, recreation, and performing arts facilities could reopen on July 6. At this time, bars and restaurants were also relieved from hard caps on their capacity, provided that social distancing can be maintained. They were also allowed to resume offering recreational activities and VLTs; the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) announced that it will raise its commissions to VLT operators from 15% to 25% through January 3, 2021 to compensate for the shutdown, in an effort to provide additional revenue to the hospitality industry.[195] Live entertainment at licensed establishments could resume July 16.[189]

Casinos reopened on July 9; no live table games were initially offered, and selected slot machines are disabled to enforce social distancing. The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) is requiring the wearing of face masks, and for patrons to check-in upon arrival (through either a name and phone number, or via their rewards card) for contact tracing purposes.[196][197][198] In October 2020, the SHA updated its guidance to allow some table games to resume, if cards or chips are not handled by players.[199]

Zambory deemed Moe's initial announcement on April 13 to be premature; she argued that it could encourage residents to stop practising social distancing or remaining at home, which could potentially lead to renewed spread.[200] Following the unveiling, Zambory was more positive towards the plan, stated that "there's no reason reopening the economy and keeping people in Saskatchewan safe from COVID-19 can't go in tandem", but displayed a continued concern that residents were "going to get far too comfortable and start forgetting all the good rules that we've worked so hard on."[201] NDP Leader Meili supported the announced plan, but called for more financial support to be provided to "support communities, individuals and families" impacted by the pandemic and business closures, and criticized Moe's optimistic declaration from his address as "pretend[ing] that this is over", as well as a lack of consultation with Saskatchewan's First Nations communities and other provinces over the plan.[202]

Child care services could not expand their capacity until phase 3, which faced criticism from Meili for potentially affecting the ability for parents to return to work in phase 2.[203] Premier Moe stated that this was "an ongoing conversation that we can have as we phase into these different approaches to ensure that people not only have the opportunity to go back to work but have the opportunity to access child care for their children."[204] On April 28, it was announced that the province would provide space at school-based child care facilities for the children of workers of businesses reopened in phase 1 and 2 (and later, phase 3)[179] of the plan.[205]

Concerns were raised over the impact of the La Loche outbreak on the plans; on April 27, Premier Moe described this as an isolated outbreak and not "throughout the North", but Zambory still showed concerns, stating that "it really is scary now that we're starting to really become overly comfortable".[59] On April 29, Moe officially announced that La Loche, as well as Lloydminster (due to an outbreak recently detected in the area), would be excluded from the implementation of phase 1 at this time.[63] On May 7, it was announced that Lloydminster would be allowed to enter phase 1 on May 11.[73]

On May 4, most of the province entered phase 1 of a re-opening plan to lift the majority of the prior restrictions, beginning with those surrounding medical clinics and outdoor recreation. Some restrictions remain in force indefinitely, including those on larger public gatherings, visitation of long-term care facilities, visitation of SHA facilities for non-compassionate reasons, and mandatory self-isolation after international travel.[176][177][178]

On October 28, in response to a growing number of cases attributed to them, it was announced that nightclubs in Saskatoon would be required to prohibit alcohol consumption after 10:00 p.m., and close from 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. nightly. In addition, all nightclubs province-wide were restricted to static groups of six per-table.[14] On November 3, 2020, Saskatchewan announced new targeted health orders covering Prince Albert, Regina, and Saskatoon beginning November 6, which mandate the wearing of face masks by patrons of indoor public spaces. This order would last for at least 28 days. The maximum size of private gatherings at homes was also reduced to 10 province-wide.[123][206]

On November 13, a further series of public health measures were announced, effective November 16 and active for 28 days. The mask mandate was extended to all communities within the census metropolitan areas of Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert regardless of population, and any other community with a population above 5,000. Alcohol sales at bars and restaurants must end at 10 p.m nightly, and consumption must end after 11 p.m. Group fitness activities must be limited to a maximum of 8 people with three metres of physical distance between individuals, and hookah lounges are ordered closed.[128] The same day, the SHA announced that it will no longer publish advisories relating to possible COVID-19 exposures at public locations unless self-isolation is required, as residents should self-monitor for symptoms at all times.[207]

On November 17, it was announced that on November 19, the mask mandate would be extended to all communities province-wide regardless of population, private at-home gatherings would be further-limited to 5 people (including residents; if a household has five or more immediate members, visitors are prohibited), limousine and party bus services would be required to suspend operations, and that visitation of long-term care facilities would again be restricted.[130][17][131]

New restrictions were announced on November 25, taking effect November 27 through December 17; masks are mandatory at all schools, at gyms while exercising, and in all common areas of workplaces. Large retail stores (defined as those larger than 25,000 square feet (2,300 m²) in size) are capped at 50% capacity, and must "enhance the expectation of mask use". Bars and restaurants are limited to four people per-table. Tables must be placed 3 metres apart if there is no impenetrable barrier between them (otherwise 2 metres), and contact information must be collected from all patrons for contact tracing purposes. Indoor venues such as arenas, banquet halls, cinemas, casinos, performing arts venues, and places of worship are limited to a capacity of 30 people. Indoor banquets and conferences, funeral receptions, and wedding receptions are also limited to 30 people, and are prohibited from serving food or drink. To prevent importation of infections into schools and workplaces, all group and team sports activities are suspended; individuals under 18 may still practice in physically-distanced groups of less than eight, but may not participate in games.[208][15]

In response to the new limits, Amalgamated Charities voluntarily closed its five charity bingo halls in Regina, Saskatoon, and Moose Jaw, citing safety concerns and that the 30-person limit would make it difficult to break even on operating costs and allow for .[209] On December 10, legislation was introduced proposing that the maximum fine for a violation of health orders be increased to $7,500 for individuals and $100,000 for companies.[210]

On December 14, the current health orders were renewed through January 15, and new orders were announced. Effective December 17, public outdoor gatherings may not consist of more than 10 people, and private indoor gatherings with people from outside of one's immediate household are prohibited. Personal care facilities must reduce their capacity to 50% (staff inclusive), and beginning December 25, large retail stores are capped at 25% capacity, and all other retail stores must reduce their capacity to 50%. Casinos and bingo halls were closed effective December 19.[16] These restrictions have been renewed through February 19, 2021.[149]

On December 17, Shahab announced that the province would reduce the length of the mandatory self-isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19, from 14 days to 10 days. He cited "emerging evidence that shows that, for most people, they are not infectious 10 days after testing positive or the start of symptoms". The 14-day requirement still applies to close contacts of COVID-19 cases (as it may still take up to 14 days for symptoms to develop after exposure), and those returning from international travel (as required by federal law).[211] The next day, the province announced that it would remove a 150-person capacity limit on ski hills, subject to social distancing.[212]

The present restrictions remain in affect through at least February 19, 2021.[149]

The University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan voluntarily suspended in-person classes on March 16, and switched to online courses for the remainder of the semester.[213][214] On March 16, the province announced that all public schools would "wind down" over the week, and close indefinitely on March 20. Final grades were issued based on existing progress, and eligible Grade 12 students were able to graduate.[215][216] Daycares were capped at 8 children per teacher, and school-based facilities were reserved for the children of essential workers.[171][205] NDP Leader Meili criticized the approach, arguing that the children of health care workers mixed with others could spread COVID-19 among families.[205]

On May 7, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education stated that in-person classes would remain suspended through the end of the school year.[217] The University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan announced that the suspension of in-person classes would continue through fall semester.[218] On June 9, the province announced that it would allow public schools to resume in-person classes beginning in the new school year, with guidelines to be issued by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer. Contingencies will be offered in case in-person classes cannot be offered, or a student voluntarily declines to attend them.[219]

The "Safe Schools Plan" was released on August 4, 2020, which includes a four-level system for determining how classes will be held based on current situations, ranging from "as close to normal as possible" under enhanced safety protocols (Level 1), to mandating face masks (Level 2), reducing the capacity of schools via cohorts and alternate-day in-person classes (Level 3), and suspending in-person classes for all students (Level 4).[220][221] Most decisions will be left to individual school boards, which developed procedures aligned with the provincial guidance.[222][223]

NDP Education Critic Carla Beck felt that the Saskatchewan Safe Schools Plan was the worst back-to-school plan in the entire country, citing the lack of immediate requirements for face masks and/or reduced class sizes (as in other provinces), lack of additional funding being provided to schools to cover the costs of implementing the guidelines, and concerns that the guidelines had not been updated to account for recent increases in community transmission. Beck argued that "prior to this pandemic, classrooms were already overcrowded and understaffed", and that "this seems to be a plan that is setting our schools up to fail and if and when people get sick, then we’ll look at bringing in additional measures."[222][223] NDP Leader Meili felt that it lacked detail on what criteria would be used to determine an increase in level.[224] Minister of Education Gordon Wyant stated that the plan was open to adjustments if recommended by Shahab based on changing conditions, and that the province was ordering six million masks for use by students and faculty in case Level 2 measures need to be employed.[223]

On August 7, the province stated that "mask usage can be implemented under the direction of the Chief Medical Health Officer in consultation with Public Health either regionally or provincially, based on the most up-to-date situation and scientific information available".[225] The province released more specific guidance on August 12 for Phase 2 protocols, including recommending that masks be worn in "high-traffic areas" by students from Grade 4 to 12. The public and Catholic school boards of Regina and Saskatoon subsequently announced that they would mandate the wearing of masks by students when social distancing is not possible.[226]

On August 15, Premier Moe announced that the start of classes would be delayed by a week to September 8 (after Labour Day) to provide additional time for preparations by students and faculty, and that the province would develop a voluntary testing strategy oriented towards schools, and provide $40 million in additional funding to school divisions to cover costs related to safety measures.[227]

On September 10, Saskatchewan's universities announced that their suspension of most in-person classes will continue through the Winter 2021 semester, citing the unavailability of a vaccine and the potential impact of flu season.[228]

On September 28, Yorkton Regional High School became the first Saskatchewan school to temporarily suspend in-person classes due to cases associated with students and faculty of the school. The school believed that the cases were the result of community transmission off-campus, but that contact tracing of affected individuals and disinfection of the entire campus would occur.[229]

On November 6, all Regina Public Schools high schools were moved to Level 3 (alternate-day learning), citing increasing numbers of cases tied to students in the area.[221] On November 13, in consort with other public health measures announced, the provincial government recommended that all high schools with over 600 students be moved to Level 3.[128]

As of November 25, at least 22 schools had reported at least two or more cases (defined as an "outbreak" by the SHA).[230][231] Shabab stated that sports were "the primary source of importation" for COVID-19 cases in schools, which led to the decision to temporarily suspend all group and team sport activity province-wide.[230]

Non-essential travel outside of the province has been discouraged, except for those commuting for work out-of-province (such as in border communities).[2][164] Effective March 20, residents returning from any international travel (excluding essential travellers such as working crews, transport workers and health care workers),[169] those who have tested positive for COVID-19,[232] and those identified as recent contacts of someone who had tested positive, are required by law to self-isolate for 14 days, with those breaking quarantine subject to a $2,000 fine.[169][3] Premier Moe cited concerns over those not following its previous self-isolation recommendations as justification for the legal measure.[171] This also became a federal requirement under the Quarantine Act effective March 26.[233]

On April 18, citing reports of cases linked to the Kearl Oil Sands Project near Fort McMurray, Alberta,[234] the SHA instituted an advisory against non-essential travel between Northwest Saskatchewan and Northern Alberta, and began recommending self-isolation for those returning from inter-provincial travel between the areas.[235] These cases would result in a major outbreak in Northern Saskatchewan.[11] On April 24, due to an increasing number of cases in the zone, Premier Moe announced that non-essential travel into or from the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District (NSAD) would be restricted, enforced by checkpoints along highways leading into the zone. Residents of the area were also advised to avoid non-essential travel between communities.[236][57]

On April 30, a public health order was issued requiring residents of the NSAD to practice appropriate social distancing and not travel outside of their communities, with exceptions only for medical needs and grocery shopping. Individuals with a primary residence in the NSAD were also barred from entering the region.[205][237] Those travelling to and from the communities of La Ronge and Stony Rapids were initially granted an exception to the travel ban, but they were forbidden from stopping in any other community within the NSAD.[205][237] La Ronge councillor Jordan McPhail stated on May 3 that the town would request its removal from the exemption, arguing that it created a loophole.[238] Both exemptions were removed on May 6.[72]

On May 19, due to the regional nature of the La Loche outbreak, the interprovincial travel restrictions were reduced to only the northwest corner of the province.[239] The travel restriction ended in full on June 8.[185]

On April 15, the SHA began to mandate that employees of all of its facilities wear masks and undergo twice-daily temperature checks. An online self-screening website was established to provide guidance to employees before they begin their shifts.[240] Effective April 28, employees of long-term care facilities are cohorted, and are prohibited from working at more than one facility in order to prevent spread. Individual facilities may be exempted by request if they are deemed unable to maintain adequate staff.[241][242]

As of April 28, there are 50 testing sites in Saskatchewan.[60] Officials stated that Saskatchewan has had the second-largest number of tests performed per-capita among all provinces.[243][244] On April 9, it was announced that the lab had processed over 1,000 in 24 hours.[245] On April 13, Premier Moe announced that the province had begun to deploy around twelve mobile testing machines, beginning in Meadow Lake and Prince Albert, to allow tests to be processed on-site in around four hours. Moe stated that the province aimed to perform 1,500 tests per-day by the end of April.[246] Following their approval by Health Canada, the province purchased new rapid testing kits by the Ottawa-based Spartan Bioscience. However, on May 3, these kits were voluntarily recalled by the company after being restricted to research use only by Health Canada, due to "concerns regarding the efficacy of the proprietary swab".[247][248]

By late-April, the amount of testing performed began to decline; SHA CEO Scott Livingstone stated on April 22 that they were "just not seeing people show up with symptoms of COVID-19", and there had also been a decline in calls to HealthLine 811. Despite this, Livingstone did state that their overall testing capacity had surpassed the previously-stated target of 1,500 per-day.[45][249]

On April 28, the SHA announced that it would expand its testing to include more involving asymptomatic patients.[60] This will also include testing of long-term care and personal care residents upon admission and readmission.[250] On May 14, the SHA announced that it would expand proactive testing of patients being admitted to acute care, asymptomatic immunocompromised patients (such as cancer patients), health workers who work with immunocompromised patients, and workers of "high-volume" operations (such as factories), and "active case finding" in populations such as First Nations communities.[251][252] On May 20, the SHA announced that tests would become available by-request to any resident who works outside of home.[253]

Door-to-door testing was employed in the La Loche area, with over 800 households tested through the conclusion of the program on May 24. Northern Health Officer Zayed described the scheme as having led to "more understanding, communication, engagement, [and] solidarity" between the SHA and local leaders.[254]

On July 7, the SHA began to lift restrictions on visitation, allowing residents of acute and long-term care patients to have one family or support visitor at a time, and maternal service, critical care, and palliative or end of life patients to have two.[255]

On July 13, the SHA announced that testing would become available by-request to all residents.[256] The change led to a major increase in demand for tests: on July 23, NDP Leader Meili urged the SHA to increase its testing capacity so it could deal with a reported backlog, and to be more transparent about average wait times for testing.[257][258] As of July 27, Saskatchewan had lagged in testing per-capita in comparison to other provinces.[182]

On August 31, Livingstone told CJME's John Gormley that the province was aiming to increase its capacity to 4,000 tests per-day in preparation for the return to school, that the province had never exceeded its test capacity, and that it was focusing on easing access to testing.[259] Two drive-through testing sites in Regina and Saskatoon were subsequently announced September 4.[260]

Saskatchewan joined the national COVID Alert Exposure Notification app on September 18.[261]

On November 19, 2020, Health Minister Paul Merriman stated that the province expected to be allocated 160,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the federal government from its initial purchase of six million (sourced from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, enough for three million patients on two doses), with distribution expected to begin with those at the highest risk (seniors and health care workers) in the first quarter of 2021.[132][133]

On November 25, Premier Moe criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for suggesting that Canada might not receive COVID-19 vaccine doses as quickly as other countries due to a lack of domestic production capability. He stated that the statements were "quite troubling" and "opposite of the assurances the Prime Minister has been offering us as Canadians for a number of weeks and month or two now", asking "why would the federal government sign contracts that put Canada and Canadians at the back of the line? Will the vaccine be distributed to provinces on a per-capita basis as we’ve been told would happen? And most importantly, when will we start to receive the vaccine in our respective provinces?"[262][263]

In a November 29 interview with CTV's Question Period, Premier Moe argued that the federal government needed to "very ambitiously and aggressively procure some additional vaccines in a tighter timeframe", since "we're going to treat about less than 10 per cent of Canadians prior to March. The U.S. is planning for treating just under 10 per cent of Americans by the end of December." Federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc defended Canada's vaccine distribution strategy, stating that "we will have a very effective, very well-planned rollout system, in partnership with provinces and territories to deliver that vaccine safely and effectively to Canadians. So the idea that there's a lag time of months and months and so on, is inaccurate."[264] In an appearance the same morning on Global's The West Block, LeBlanc stated that Canada was "certainly in the top 5" in terms of vaccine evaluability, and stated that the initial six million doses would begin distribution in January 2021.[265]

On December 9, 2020, the SHA announced its rollout plan for the Pfizer vaccine (approved the same day by Health Canada).[141] Two health care workers were the first to receive the vaccine on December 15.[266] The SHA began an initial pilot phase involving key frontline health workers in Regina. A second shipment was expected to be received by late-December to early-January. The first distribution phase proper will focus on health care workers and high-risk populations (including the elderly and remote indigenous communities). The second phase is expected to begin by April 2021, with wider availability to the general public via public health clinics.[141][267] The province also began distribution of the Moderna MRNA-1273 vaccine in early-January 2021, with an initial focus on Northern Saskatchewan due to surges in the region, and it being relatively easier to transport in comparison to the Pfizer vaccine.[268][269]

Métis Nation—Saskatchewan (MN–S) declared a province-wide state of emergency on April 18.[279] The organization stated that "jurisdictional limbo" between the provincial and federal governments had hampered their ability to prepare for COVID-19.[280]

On September 18, MN–S president Glen McCallum tested positive for COVID-19:[281] he had received a test as a precaution on September 15 due to his role.[282] The Hawood Inn in Waskesiu Lake, Saskatchewan was forced to close for disinfection after McCallum attended MN–S meetings at the hotel between the time of the test and the result; its owner accused McCallum of not following provincial health guidelines, including not self-isolating while awaiting the result, not wearing a mask, and having attempted to remove social distancing from a seating layout during the Friday meeting.[283]

MN–S stated that McCallum was asymptomatic and not specifically told to self-isolate, and accused "individuals" and "politically-motivated gossip sites" of "engaging in unfounded rumour-mongering and finger-pointing during a serious public health crisis". McCallum apologized for his actions and stated that he would follow health guidelines going forward.[283]

In March 2020, the municipal governments of Gravelbourg and Regina declared their own states of emergency with stricter restrictions than those enforced by the province. Regina announced an intent to ban all public meetings larger than 5 people or more (outside of home, workplaces, or as part of essential services), and order the closure of retail stores in specific categories to in-person shopping (including clothing, furniture, games, sporting goods, and toys) effective March 23.[284] Mayor of Regina Michael Fougere argued that Saskatchewan's initial restrictions were not strict enough, arguing that meetings of 50 people were too large to avoid possible community transmission, and that restaurants and bars should have been ordered to close rather than limit capacity.[285]

Gravelbourg similarly ordered that all businesses be closed to the public for 14 days (delivery and curbside pickup would still be allowed, and there were special operating requirements planned for the local Co-op store), and that only a maximum of five employees could be in a building at any one time.[286]

On March 22, the province stated that it would take steps to ensure that its emergency measures maintain precedence over municipal orders that include "contrary standards".[287] Minister of Government Relations Lori Carr explained that "during this time of great uncertainty, it is of the utmost importance that we provide certainty to Saskatchewan residents and make every effort to minimize confusion", and cited Regina's attempts to close retail stores as an example of a restriction where provincial decisions take precedence.[288][289]

On May 20, the CFL announced that the 108th Grey Cup festivities in Regina had been cancelled (with Regina's Mosaic Stadium therefore awarded the 110th Grey Cup in 2022), and the game (if held) would use home advantage based on regular season performance.[293] Premier Moe endorsed interest by the city of Regina in hosting the CFL's western teams as part of a proposed "hub" model if the 2020 CFL season were to go on with such a format. The league would name Winnipeg as its tentative hub city for all games in July 2020,[294][295] but cancelled the season permanently in August 2020 due to various financial factors.[296]

The 2020 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Lloydminster were initially postponed to 2021. On December 21, 2020, it was announced that the Games had been cancelled in full. Lloydminster will receive right of first refusal for the 2024 Games.[297][298]

On June 8, 2020, Canada West and U Sports cancelled all sanctioned university athletics events for the remainder of the calendar year.[299]

Team sports were allowed to resume in Phase 4 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan.[194] Tournaments are prohibited,[194] as well as inter-provincial travel for the purpose of participating in sporting events. This includes both participants entering the province, as well as Saskatchewan residents exiting the province.[300] Hockey games were given permission to admit up to 150 spectators.[301] On November 25, amid increasing cases tied to sport and recreation, it was announced that all group and team sports activities will be suspended from November 27.[208]

On November 24, 2020, Fred Sasakamoose—one of the first indigenous NHL players—died at 86 from complications of COVID-19.[302]

In January 2021, Saskatchewan officials prohibited Curlsask from holding its provincial SaskTel Tankard and Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts championships in a "bubble", pursuant to the current prohibition of sports. Its representatives for the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Tim Hortons Brier were selected based on season performance in 2019–20 and 2020–21.[303] On January 21, 2021, veteran Saskatchewan sports broadcaster Warren "Woody" Woods died at 66 from complications of COVID-19 [304]