Effective Thursday, November 19th, wearing a non-medical mask will now be required in all indoor public spaces in Saskatchewan.
The use of non-medical masks is MANDATORY in most indoor public places. Indoor places could include:
- All healthcare facilities (Addiction treatment centres, complex care centres, health centres, hospitals, mental health centres, residential treatment centres or special-care homes)
- All long-term care, personal care homes and assisted living facilities
- Pharmacies
- Medical service centres and offices (such as doctors office, dentist office, physiotherapist, therapeutic massage)
- Retail businesses (such as grocery stores, clothing stores, and sporting good stores)
- Shopping centres, markets and malls
- Service businesses (such as mechanics, insurance agencies, dry cleaners, and professional services)
- Personal services businesses, such as hair and nail salons, spas, body art facilities or tanning salons (except during services that require removing a mask)
- Restaurants and bars, except while eating or drinking while seated in designated areas
- Places of worship or faith gatherings
- Places for cultural or entertainment services or activities, such as movie theatres, arcades, concerts and other performances
- Places for sports and recreational activities, such as a gym, ice arena, pool, gymnastic facility, dance facility or indoor court or field facility, except while participating in physical exertion
- Places for events, such as conferences and receptions
- Municipal, provincial or federal government locations offering services to the public
- Common areas of tourist accommodations/hotels, such as lobbies, elevators and hallways
- Common areas of office buildings, such as lobbies, elevators and hallways, but not private offices/cubicles. In your private office/cubicle you may remove your mask when you are alone only. If someone else enters your office/cubicle, you and your guest(s) must put a mask back on.
- Common areas of condo and apartment buildings, such as lobbies, elevators and hallways, but not the private apartment or condo itself.
- Public areas of a university or college campus, such as library or student union building, classrooms, hallways and other common areas, but not labs, offices or residences (dormitories)
- Train or bus stations, bus shelters, ferry terminals and airports
- Public transport, including cabs, ride share services and carpooling.
- For information about mask guidance in schools, visit the Safe Schools Plan.
The use of non-medical masks is NOT MANDATORY in these locations:
- Workplaces to which the public does not have access; unless masks are mandated by the workplace
- Private homes and residences except for service workers and visitors
- Private areas of long-term care homes, personal care homes, group homes, and assisted living
- Private resident areas of communal living, hospitality and workplace accommodations
- Hotel rooms, motel rooms, and bedrooms and private bathrooms in a bed and breakfast
- Public indoor areas when eating or drinking while seated or in designated area
Masks are not required for the following individuals or in the following circumstances:
- Children under 2 years of age
- Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance
- People whose medical condition prevents them from wearing a mask (as determined by a health professional)
- People who, due to cognitive impairment, an intellectual disability, or a severe mental health condition are unable to understand the requirement
- While participating in fitness, aquatic, or sports activities for the duration of the activity only
- The short-term removal of the mask is necessary for the purposes of identifying the individual
- It is necessary for the individual to uncover their nose, mouth, or chin for the purposes of receiving a health or personal service, for the duration of the
treatment or service only.
- When providing personal support services to an individual with a disability when wearing a mask could hinder the ability of that individual to receive the service, such as hindering the individual’s ability to lip read.
- While in an area of the enclosed setting to which members of the public do not normally have access, and the individual is alone.
- In a courthouse or courtroom, where wearing a mask poses a security risk.
- In a proceeding before an administrative tribunal established by legislation or a court where the decision maker determines that removing the mask is essential to ensure the integrity of the proceeding.
- The following individuals while speaking during a television or other media news interview or conference:
- Municipal, Provincial, or Federal Government officials.
- Media broadcasters.
- Clergy members or religious leaders who are leading a service or ceremony while speaking from a podium, lectern, platform, stage, desk or other standing or seating area dedicated to speaking.