UPDATE: As of 2:45 p.m., measures put in place by the Government of Saskatchewan are now in effect for Lloydminster.
The following measures go into effect immediately and are in effect until further notice:
- Classes in all primary and secondary educational institutions, both public and private are suspended.
- Public gatherings of over 25 people in one room are prohibited except in the following circumstances where 2-metre distancing between people can be maintained: settings where people are distributed into multiple rooms or buildings or workplaces, and retail locations.
- Visitors to long-term care homes, hospitals, personal care homes, and group homes shall be restricted to family visiting for compassionate reasons only.
- The closure of all bars, lounges, night clubs and similar facilities except in the following circumstances: take out of alcohol or food products with 2-metre distancing between customers and delivery of alcohol or food products.
- All persons that have been identified by a Medical Health Officer as a close contact of a person or persons with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from the date of last having been exposed to COVID-19;
- All persons that have traveled internationally shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from date of arrival back into Canada, except for the following persons if such persons are supervised by Infection Prevention and Control Officers or Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace: health care workers; workers who provide emergency health care services; workers who are essential to maintain essential services; workers who maintain supply chain; or rail, airline and transport crews.
- All persons that become symptomatic while on mandatory self-isolation shall call Healthline 811 and follow Healthline directives; and all persons who are household members of a person with COVID-19 shall immediately go into mandatory self-isolation, call Healthline 811 and follow Healthline directives.
- The closure of restaurants, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, bistros, and similar facilities, except the following is permitted: take out food with 2-metre distancing between customers; drive through food services; delivery of food products; or soup kitchens, not-for-profit community kitchens and religious kitchens with 2-metre distancing between persons
- The closure of all recreational and entertainment facilities including fitness centers, casinos, bingo halls, arenas, curling rinks, swimming pools, galleries, theaters, museums and similar facilities.
- The closure of all personal service facilities including the place of business of: a tattooist, hairdresser or barber, acupuncturist, acupressurist, cosmetologist, electrologist, esthetician, manicurist, pedicurist, sun tanning parlour, facilities in which body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services are provided, facilities in which massage or massage therapy services are provided except where the services are urgently medically necessary, any other personal service facilities similar to the above.
- Dental, optometrists, ophthalmologist, physical therapy, occupational therapy, podiatry clinics shall only provide urgent services or procedures.
- All facilities that provide child care services are limited to a maximum of 8 children per room.
- All child care facilities that are co-located with or with-in a long term care or personal care home that meet the above restriction shall be segregated with a private entrance and separate space so that there are no shared common areas with the long term care home or personal care home, as the case may be, and no interaction between childcare children and residents of the home. The child care facility may continue to operate subject to any restrictions placed on all child care facilities.
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The city’s Emergency Management Operations Manager Jordan Newton says the risk of COVID-19 to the public is still low. He says he’s been in close contact with the Saskatchewan Health Authority officials and there are no confirmed cases in the city.
“To my knowledge there have been no confirmed cases in the City of Lloydminster. If there are any confirmed cases the City of Lloydminster will be sharing that information with our public.”
Newton says residents should still follow recommendations by both provincial health authorities and maintain social distancing, proper hand hygiene and self-isolating if sick or if they’ve travelled recently.
The Government of Saskatchewan has implemented more measures which includes limiting public gatherings to a maximum of 25 people, restrictions on personal service facilities and specialized medical facilities such as dentist, optometrist and podiatry clinics.
Newton says the city hasn’t implemented those measures as of yet but they have decided to close City Hall, the Operations Centre and Employee Relations Building to the public. Alta-Sask Wellness located in the Servus Sports Centre and the RCMP detachment are still open to everyone.
“Due to our bi-provincial nature the city is assessing the impacts of what that order does for the entirety of our community. Once we get more information we will be doing a news release to the public and recommend that the public on both sides of the border refer to the City of Lloydminster website for more information.”
Newton says the city is continuing to work out their bill deferral program and will be reaching out to residents once a decision has been made.
He says it is still safe to use the city parks and walking trails as long as people maintain social distancing.