Starting May 4, dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, podiatrists, occupational therapists and chiropractors will be able to open their doors for services. They will need to follow strict guidelines, including screening clients and providers, gloves and face masks.
Gatherings will still be capped at a maximum of 10 people under the first phase of the re-opening plan.
Guidelines for service providers opening under phase one
In its plan to re-open Saskatchewan, the province says health-care providers will still need to limit bookings. Appointments will need to be scheduled so that there are no more than 10 people in an area at a time to continue to follow public health guidelines.
The province suggests clients wait in their vehicles instead of waiting rooms and providers are encouraged to call or text people when their appointment begins. If people are waiting in the building, they should maintain at least two metres of physical distancing between themselves and other clients.
Service providers are also encouraged to establish a “directional flow” through the facility and remove non-essential items like toys and remote controls from waiting rooms.
All clients should be screened for visible COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone exhibiting symptoms will need to wear surgical mask, or cancel their appointment.
Common areas and procedure rooms will need to be disinfected between each client. Businesses are also encouraged to explain the procedures in place and public health orders to their clients ahead of their appointment.
Cleaning and disinfecting
COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for several days, which is why the province says businesses need to clean and disinfect regularly. Common areas, along with frequently used surfaces like door handles, light switches, taps and hand rails, should be cleaned at least twice a day, the province says.
Employees shouldn’t share phones, desks, offices or other tools when possible.
Clothing and other fabrics should be washed and dried at the highest temperature setting and dried completely before use.
Any hand sanitizer needs to be approved by Health Canada.
Lloydminster Hospital is dealing with an outbreak of more than a dozen cases, including patients and health-care workers. Anyone who has tested positive has moved to a separate unit at the hospital.
The far north region has the most active COVID-19 cases in the province.
Premier Scott Moe has not announced when these communities will be able to start the re-opening process.
Boat launches open Monday
Fishing and boat launches at Saskatchewan’s provincial parks will open for use on Monday.
Boat passengers need to be from the same household, the province says. Anyone on the shoreline will need to maintain at least two metres of physical distancing.
People aren’t allowed to fish off public docks, dams, jetties or marinas.
There will be limited bathroom access for day-use only and shower facilities are closed.
The province says fishing shacks are also not permitted.
Other services opening later in phase one
Saskatchewan’s golf courses will open to the public on May 15. They will also need to follow strict cleaning guidelines and golfers will need to maintain strict physical distancing. The province also says tee times will need to be 20 minutes apart to avoid congestion and golfers are encouraged to walk instead of taking golf carts.
Camping reservations will also be available starting May 4 for camping dates in June.
Anyone making a reservation needs to be a Saskatchewan resident.
Second phase to begin May 19
The second phase of re-opening the economy is scheduled to begin on May 19.
That phase includes the gradual re-opening of retail stores and personal services like hair dressers, massage therapists and acupuncturists.
All businesses will need to follow strict guidelines under the second phase.
The dates of the three remaining phases are yet to be determined.
TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.
The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.
The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.
In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.
Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 172.18 points at 23,383.35.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 34.99 points at 40,826.72. The S&P 500 index was up 10.56 points at 5,564.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 74.84 points at 17,470.37.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.55 cents US compared with 73.59 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up $2.00 at US$69.31 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$40.00 at US$2,582.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was up six cents at US$4.20 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
