This page is intended to provide information to the public on cleaning, disinfection, and other mitigation measures in regard to the COVID-19 response. Public health measures for workplaces and other specific situations can be found at Saskatchewan COVID-19 Public Health Measures.
The most up-to-date COVID-19 information can be found at the Government of Saskatchewan's website at COVID-19.
General Information
- The novel coronavirus primarily spreads via respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing during close person-to-person contact. It also spreads by touching surfaces with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
- Frequent cleaning and disinfection help prevent spread of the disease.
- Information on environmental cleaning in home settings can be found at Cleaning and Disinfection Information for Private Homes.
- Clean often. Common areas should be kept clean and free from clutter.
- Commonly touched areas should be cleaned and disinfected twice daily or whenever visibly soiled.
- Commonly touched areas include light switches, doorknobs, toilets, taps, hand rails, counter tops, toys, touch screens/mobile devices, remote controls, keyboards, laundry machine control panels, and vending machines.
Public and Private Gatherings
- Effective June 22, 2020, indoor and outdoor gatherings may have a maximum of 30 people provided there is enough space to maintain a two-metre separation between individuals who are not in the same household.
- Workplaces are exempt from the gathering sizes restriction. A distance of two metres between individuals in the workplace shall be maintained, unless workers are unable to for safety reasons.
- Refer to the Workplace COVID-19 Fact Sheet for more information on workplace requirements. For additional information regarding workplaces, visit Worksafe Saskatchewan.
- Limit public outings to essential needs only such as groceries, prescription pickup, etc.
- It is recommended that event facilities and planners of upcoming mass gatherings, such as weddings or reunions, cancel or postpone events upcoming in the next few months. Offer virtual or live-streamed activities instead of in-person events.
- If you choose to hold your event, it must follow the gathering size limits, and all present must practice social distancing by remaining two metres apart. Be mindful that the permitted attendance may be changed at any time or mass gatherings may be entirely prohibited.
- Unplanned events (e.g. wakes, funerals), when possible, should be postponed. Where a postponement is not possible, the event shall follow the gathering size limits and physical distancing shall be practiced.
- If you plan or need to hold an event within the attendee restrictions, you should take into consideration the risk involved in holding an event and implement mitigation measures that include:
- people who are sick with a fever or cough must not attend (even if symptoms appear to be mild or resembling a cold);
- recommend anyone at high-risk of severe disease not attend the event;
- stagger the time of arrivals and departures;
- serve pre-packaged refreshments only;
- increase access to handwashing stations or alcohol-based sanitizer;
- frequently clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched often; and
- promote good respiratory hygiene.
Food
- Based on current research, the risk of becoming ill with COVID-19 from ingesting food or contact with food packaging is very low.
- To further minimize risk, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer prior to eating, before and after grocery shopping, and after handling food packaging.
- Wash fruits and vegetables after returning home or prior to use.
- Follow social distancing directions provided by the grocery store. Keep a distance of two metres from other customers, even in the checkout line.
- Do not go shopping if you are sick or symptomatic. Make use of takeout and delivery services where possible.
- The current evidence shows no increased risk of transmission with takeout, drive-through, and meal delivery. Wherever possible limit contact with service and delivery people.
Shelters and Food Banks
- Volunteers and staff should wash hands and use hand sanitizer regularly. Access to handwashing facilities and/or hand sanitizer should be made available to patrons.
- Staff and volunteers should stay home if sick. Encourage shelter patrons to report symptoms and assist them in self-isolation where possible.
- Keep a distance of two metres between sleeping mats or cots with "head-to-foot" placement.
- At meal sitting maintain two metres distance between patrons. Have hand hygiene facilities available (hand sanitizer and/or hand sink). Staff may consider dispensing hand sanitizer to patrons to reduce contact with common touch container and ensure security of supply.
- If your shelter facility lacks facilities to allow patrons to self-isolate, work with other agencies or alternate locations to find capacity.
- Disinfect surfaces like railings, doorknobs, tables, baskets, etc. on a regular basis.
- Whenever possible, use non-porous plastic tables that can be easily disinfected.
- Consider increasing practicality of social distancing by staggering entry or only allowing small groups of people in at a time. Cancel group gatherings and activities.
- Masks are not necessary, as they are not protective to healthy people, but may prevent the spread of the virus from sick people.
- Continue routine precautions and hand hygiene when accepting food and other donations from private homes as well as public facilities.
Retailers
- Retailers should be closed unless they are providing a critical public service or deemed an allowable business by the Government of Saskatchewan.
- Businesses that can provide virtual retail, takeout or delivery services, and can implement public health measures such as social distancing, may operate.
- Retail and other customer-based workplaces that remain open should modify their operations to implement social distancing requirements. This may include direction for customers on distancing in lines, limiting the number of patrons in the store, messaging at frequent intervals over loudspeakers reminding patrons to maintain distancing, etc.
- Customers should:
- Use hand sanitizer when entering stores, and wash hands and/or use sanitizer as soon as possible after leaving.
- Try to maintain social distancing as much as possible while shopping.
- Avoid touching surfaces or items unnecessarily and avoid touching your mouth, nose or face.
- Do not go shopping when showing symptoms.
- Wash, using soap and water, produce prior to consumption.
Hotels and Public Accommodation
- Increase cleaning and disinfection of all common areas and surfaces such as door knobs/handles, check-in counter tops, elevator buttons, light switches, vending machines, and washrooms. Frequently touched surfaces in guest rooms must also be disinfected using a disinfectant that has a Drug Identification Number (DIN).
- Complimentary drinks and snacks should be removed from the lobby and other areas. Buffets and self-serve options should not be offered. Items may be dispensed to public by staff following proper hand hygiene requirements.
- It is recommended that persons requiring self-isolation do so in their homes. If a hotel or public accommodation room is being used for isolation, the individual should not leave the room once checked in. Guests should review self-isolation procedures on the Saskatchewan COVID-19 website.
- Regular housekeeping services will not be provided to rooms where individuals are isolating. Staff and visitors should leave linens, toiletries, cleaning supplies, essential items, and meals outside the door.
- Guests who are in isolation should not enter common areas of the hotel.
- After guests have left an isolation room, designated staff should thoroughly clean and disinfect potentially contaminated surfaces with an approved disinfectant, and launder all cloth items.
Transportation
- Use public transportation, taxi, and rideshare when necessary. Avoid unnecessary trips to reduce potential spread.
- Practice social distancing. Stay two metres away from fellow passengers on buses and larger transport vehicles. Sit in the back seat of a taxi or ride share.
- Use alternative payment methods such as credit cards to limit cash handling.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- If you have symptoms, contact HealthLine 811 prior to taking public transportation, taxis or ride shares. Follow advice provided.
Private household
- Clothing and fabric items should be laundered and dried on the highest temperature setting possible. Ensure items are thoroughly dried.
- If someone in your household becomes ill, keep them in a dedicated room, limit contact to what is needed for caregiving, clean and disinfect often, and wash hands when leaving the room.
- There is no evidence, at this time, that companion animals can spread COVID-19 to humans. However, it may be possible for you to spread COVID-19 to your pets if you become sick.
- Have a plan for someone to care for your pets if you become ill.
- If receiving mail and packages, including food or grocery delivery, practice good hand hygiene after handling items and refrain from touching your face.
Apartment Buildings and Group Living
- Owners, operators, caretakers, and landlords should arrange for increased cleaning and disinfection in all common areas. Commonly touched areas include door handles, elevator buttons, chairs, railings, laundry machines, counters, and intercoms.
- Residents should refrain from gathering in non-essential shared spaces including gyms, common rooms, activity rooms, patios/decks, cafes, lunchrooms, hallways, and dining halls.
- Laundry rooms, mailrooms, bike storage rooms, and parking garages can still be used.
- Shared washrooms should be kept well stocked with soap and water for hand washing and frequently cleaned and disinfected.
- Standing group activities such as morning coffees, games nights, etc. should be discontinued.