Northern Saskatchewan COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

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

All areas of Saskatchewan are fully in Phase 4 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, 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. 

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.  
​
Except where drive-thru options are available (Prince Albert, Yorkton, Saskatoon and Regina only), testing for COVID-19 is available in Saskatchewan by referral only and not through walk-in testing. 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
  • Southend
  • Stanley Mission
Q2. What are the limits on public and private gatherings?
 A: From the Saskatchewan.ca website, the limits are as follows: 
As of December 17, all private dwelling indoor gatherings are limited to immediate households only.
  • Single individuals (a person who resides on their own) are permitted to meet with one household of less than five (always the same household). For clarity, a person who resides on their own may not visit or host multiple households and households may not visit or host multiple persons who reside on their own.  At all times, there can be no more than 5 persons in the gathering.
  • Co-parenting arrangements are permitted to continue.  Caregivers, support personnel and tradespersons are permitted. 

People may meet and greet outdoors with up to 10 people only, provided physical distancing between households can be maintained.

​Indoor gatherings in public facilities must follow the guidelines of that specific facility. ​

Indoor public banquets, conferences, wedding and funeral receptions in public venues will be limited to 30 people. Food or beverages may not be present or served.

The gathering size restriction does not apply to:
  • Settings where people are distributed into multiple rooms or buildings, and workplaces.
  • Critical public service or an allowable business service.
  • Events and activities to the extent that the guidelines applicable to those events or activities found in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan explicitly permits or requires an alternative gathering size for a specific event or activity. In such a case, the gathering size explicitly permitted or required shall not be exceeded and specified physical distancing shall be maintained (such as Places of Worship, Casinos and Bingo Halls and Primary and Secondary Educational Institutes).
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?
Effective November 19, visits to all long-term care facilities and personal care homes are suspended, except for compassionate reasons as outlined in the policy below. This public health measure will be in effect until December 17 and then subject to review by Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer.

  • Two family members or support persons can be identified to support patients and residents.
  • Only one family member or support person can be present in the facility at a time.
  • Two people can be present at one time if physical distancing can be maintained for:
    • Critical care/intensive care patients
    • End of life/palliative care patients or residents
    • Maternal Services Units (Maternal and Postpartum Units, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Pediatric Intensive Care Units, Pediatric Units)
  • Additional family members or support persons may be identified for end of life, palliative and intensive/critical care, as outlined in the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Family Presence Guidelines.
For more information on Family Presence and Visitor Restrictions, Personal Items and Virtual Visiting, visit Guidance for Health Care Facilities.

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?
​​

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.