Northern Saskatchewan COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

The information on this page will be kept current as new information becomes available.

The Northwest Region is no longer in a separate phase of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. All areas of Saskatchewan are fully in Phase 4, with allowable services and businesses listed in the Critical Public Services, Allowable Business Services and Events, Activities, and Outdoor Spaces list.

The Province of Saskatchewan has guidelines which provide specific information for activities and services. A list of all the guidelines is here. 
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On this Page

​General Questions​​
  1. How do I get tested for COVID-19?
  2. What are the limits on public and private gatherings?
  3. What are the guidelines contained in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan?​
  4. Am I able to visit family and friends in the hospital?
  5. I, or somebody I know, needs additional mental health support? Are there resources available?
  6. ​Where do I find general health information for the north?

​Resources for Northern Municipalities
  1. Where can administrators, mayors and councilors find resources to answer questions like how to run an electronic council meeting, advertising public notices, deadline extension options for assessment roll, utilities, taxes, etc.
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General Questions
Q1: How do I get tested for COVID-19?
A: More information is available on the Saskatchewan.ca website regarding testing.  
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In order to be tested, a referral is required. A referral can be obtained one of three ways:
  • Through HealthLine 811
  • By your Family Physician
  • By a Nurse Practitioner 

Once you are given a referral for testing, you will be directed to a testing site. There are many testing sites across northern Saskatchewan, as well as in Meadow Lake and Prince Albert, including:
  • Beauval
  • Birch Narrows
  • Black Lake
  • Buffalo Narrows
  • Buffalo River
  • Canoe Lake
  • Cumberland House
  • Deschambeault Lake
  • English River 
  • Fond du Lac
  • Hatchet Lake
  • Île-à-la Crosse
  • La Loche
  • La Ronge
  • Montreal Lake
  • Pelican Narrows
  • Stanley Mission
Q2. What are the limits on public and private gatherings?
A: From the Saskatchewan.ca website, the limits are as follows: 
​Restrictions limiting the size of indoor and outdoor public and private gatherings remain in place. Effective June 22, 2020, indoor and outdoor gatherings may have a maximum of 30 people provided a two metre separation can be maintained at times between individuals who are not in the same household.

Extended Household Groups remain at a maximum of 15 people because they can be closer than two metres. Extended Household Groups cannot overlap with other Extended Household Groups.
Saskatchewan residents must continue to take measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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Extended Households
With caution and under the following conditions, three or four close families or groups of friends may form an extended household group, to a maximum of 15 people:
  • Your families or friends must remain consistent. Do not visit different families or friends every day.
  • People in the same extended household group without high-risk people can be closer than two metres.
  • If you are going to create an extended household group, consider if any member of the group has chronic health conditions that would put them at greater risk, or if they are in close contact with someone who could be vulnerable.
  • Stay home if you are sick.
  • Continue to practise everyday preventive actions in the new normal, including:
    • Practising proper cough and sneezing etiquette (into a tissue or the bend of your elbow);
    • Washing your hands often with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
  • Maintain a two metre distance with people who are not in your extended household group.
You should always be aware of who you have been in contact with over the past two weeks. These are the people who would need to be contacted by public health if you were to test positive for COVID-19.

How to form an extended household group.

Q3: What are the Guidelines contained in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan?
A: The Province has many different guidelines contained within their Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

​Guidelines for minimizing the spread​
Guidelines for Large Gatherings
Guidelines for Businesses
Guidelines for Outdoor Activities
Q4: Am I able to visit family and friends in the hospital?
There are currently restrictions on people visiting patients in long term care, but the Saskatchewan Health Authority is committed to a return to open family presence when it is safe to do so. As the SHA works towards this goal, they have the following guidelines, also available through their online portal:

Family Presence Flow Chart for Long Term Care 
Family Presence Flow Chart for Acute Care
Family Member/Support Person Presence Guidelines
Family Presence Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q5: I, or somebody I know, needs additional mental health support? Are there resources available?
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Q6: ​Where do I find general health information for the north?
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Resources For Northern Municipalities

COVID-19 Information for Municipalities:  includes information on council meetings, assessment appeal extensions, financial statement deadlines, and more.  This document is updated by Advisory Services and Municipal Relations, Ministry of Government Relations. 

Public Participation and Electronic Meetings: A Guide for Meeting the Requirements of The Planning and Development Act, 2007 for Northern Municipalities. This document is maintained by the Northern Planning and Sustainability Unit. 

​COVID-19 Resources for Municipalities SUMA, including webinars on electronic meetings, responding to COVID-19 logistics, northern caucus meetings, etc.

​Water Security Agency - Maintaining Proper Oversight of Drinking Water Systems During the COVID-19 Situation​

​Nine Steps for Emergency Plan Development

​Declaration of Local Emergency - a template for a council resolution declaring a local emergency. Please note that if an emergency declaration has been made by the Province, a declaration of local emergency for the same area may not be needed (see subsection 22(5) of The Emergency Planning Act)

Emergency Management Plan - template created by Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency for a comprehensive emergency plan for your community. 
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Additional Contacts

  • Main Government of Saskatchewan COVID-19 website: saskatchewan.ca/covid19.
  • COVID-19 professional health advice: dial 811 or email  COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca (COVID-19 case numbers: saskatchewan.ca/covid19).
  • Non-health COVID-19 questions (Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency): 1-855-559-5502. 
  • Addictions and mental health resources: 211.ca or dial 211 or 811.  Northwest Saskatchewan (former Keewatin Yatthé Health Region): 1-844-235-5595 or text 1-306-235-7887.
  • Business: Saskatchewan Business Response Team toll free at 1-844-800-8688, supportforbusiness@gov.sk.ca.
  • Re-open Saskatchewan Plan: saskatchewan.ca/reopen
  • Food security and shelter assistance: Ministry of Social Services 1-866-221-5200.
  • Consumer Protection Inquiries: Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority 1-877-880-5550
  • Provincial Parks: Tourism Saskatchewan or 1-877-237-2273.
  • Paying taxes in northern hamlets and the district (outside of towns and northern villages): Northern Municipal Services.
    1-800-663-1555, M-F 8am-5pm.
  • On-reserve for non-health related questions: FSIN 1-877-626-6448, M-F 9am-9pm.