Province Expands Proof Of Vaccination Mandate

In a decision unlikely to impress those who chose not to or cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons the Saskatchewan government has announced an expansion of the proof of vaccination or negative COVID - 19 test to enter certain public establishments and venues.

Effective Monday at 12:01 am a new mandate dictates the following public places are now included in the proof of vaccination or negative COVID - 19 test to enter:

  • Seated dining in all restaurants including fast food restaurants;

  • Liquor manufacturers conducting retail liquor sales; and

  • Liquor stores with an integrated permit that also hold a liquor restaurant or tavern permit.

A POV or negative test will not be required for food pick-up or delivery, at food courts or for entering a premises to use the washroom.

According to staff members at one local fast food chain who spoke anonymously - as their employer had not given them permission to speak to the media - to MJ Independent business had increased immensely the very day the Province mandated the proof of vaccination or negative COVID - 19 test at sit down restaurants.

Additionally some local sit down restaurants were reporting their business dropping off 30 - 40 percent the first week the vaccine passport requirement took effect.

The proof of vaccination requirement is commonly known as a vaccine passport.

The latest mandate will still require proof of vaccination or negative COVID - 19 test at the places of business and other public buildings as dictated in the mandate it replaces.

These businesses include:
Restaurants, including restaurants in hotels or other lodgings;

  • Nightclubs, bars, taverns, and manufacturer hospitality suites, buses and other establishments and transportation licensed by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority for the sale and service of alcohol;

  • Liquor stores that have been issued standalone retail store permits issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority; and

  • Cannabis stores that have been issued standalone retail store permits by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.

Event and entertainment venues including:

  • conference centres, meeting rooms and banquet facilities, except when being used for the purposes of a court or tribunal proceeding;

  • theatres;

  • cinemas;

  • bingo halls, casinos and other gaming establishments;

  • concerts;

  • live-music venues;

  • fitness centres and gyms; and

  • facilities hosting sporting events where tickets are required that have GST charged on the ticket.

Businesses or organizations exempt from this order include:

  • retail businesses including grocery stores;

  • businesses holding an integrated liquor retail store permit that do not also hold a tavern or restaurant permit issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority;

  • businesses holding an integrated cannabis retail store permit issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority;

  • places of worship (including weddings/funerals/wakes);

  • personal services, health care services, professional services;

  • public libraries;

  • hotels or lodging including self-serve food options located within the hotel or other lodging;

  • facilities hosting amateur sporting events, including youth athletics and recreational leagues;

  • private gatherings at public venues (weddings/funerals/wakes/meetings); and

  • private gatherings at private residences.

At the present time Saskatchewan is in the midst of the fourth wave of the COVID - 19 pandemic and has one of the worst (per capita) rates of people who have contracted COVID - 19 in the country. With record numbers of cases and deaths being reported in the past ten days.

The majority of ICU spaces in the province are occupied with COVID patients and the provincial government in talks with Ontario to accept Saskatchewan patients if necessary.

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