Local municipal officials are asking residents to follow the province's guidelines and support those who need help in response to the province's State of Emergency surrounding COVID-19 announced Wednesday. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

State of Emergency

Local officials say stay healthy, support business during State of Emergency

Mar 18, 2020 | 5:26 PM

Battlefords municipal officials are asking residents to adhere to health guidelines, support their local businesses and their neighbours during the Government of Saskatchewan’s State of Emergency over the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saskatchewan’s cases of COVID-19 have doubled from eight to 16 overnight. The province announced Wednesday it has eight new presumptive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in Saskatchewan to 16. Two cases are confirmed and 14 are presumptive.

There have been no positive cases in the Battlefords area yet.

North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater said he appreciates the province is making decisions it sees necessary to attempt to contain the community transmission of this virus.

“Saskatchewan is not the first province to do this,” Bater said. “I would strongly urge individuals and businesses to take head of these new directives and to comply.”

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He said the latest directives will have a dramatic impact on businesses in particular.

“If there are ways that individuals can support local businesses while still respecting self-isolation, I strongly encourage people to do that,” Bater said. He added that could mean ordering take out food or delivery from restaurants, and visiting businesses while still maintaining a distance from other customers – “whatever it takes.” He also asks people to help their neighbours and those unable to leave their homes.

“This is the time to be community-minded, and to do what you can to help others, while still not putting yourself at risk of the virus,” Bater said. He added if people were to put their own health at risk they could make themselves a catalyst to transmit that virus to others.

Bater also asks people to give to the food bank if they can, which will be hurting at a time like this.

Town of Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said the province made the best decision to order the State of Emergency based on the disconcerting jump in COVID-19 numbers.

“I think it’s never an easy decision for any government to have to take the steps to declare this type of process,” he said. “I think it’s been done in the best mind for all of the citizens of the province.

“With the cases doubling…, I think it’s a good step,” Leslie said. “It gives the provincial government a little more authority to take steps to protect everybody in our province. That’s a good thing in this type of situation because there are too many unknowns out there, and too many unknowns that are contributing to misinformation and fear.”

Leslie said the best thing the public can do is look to the Health Authority and the government “for pertinent information as to what the next best steps are.”

The province announced in a media release Wednesday among the measures in effective immediately: Public gatherings larger than 50 people are prohibited. All restaurants, bars and event venues must limit their seating to 50 per cent of capacity or up to a maximum of 50 people, whichever is lesser. All must be able to ensure social distance of one to two metres between customers. Retail spaces including grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations are exempted from this policy but must have processes to maintain a one to two-metre separation. All gyms, fitness centres, casinos and bingo halls are ordered to close until further notice.

The province said in its statement one of the new cases may not have a link to travel, which could signal community transmission.

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With files from CKOM

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow