Indoor pools, sports facilities among businesses allowed to reopen next week

Arts, indoor sports allowed to reopen next week WATCH: The province announced the final reopening dates for facilities in Phase 4. Marc Smith reports.

REGINA — Saskatchewan indoor pools, rinks, sports, performing arts facilities, casinos and bingo halls are allowed to resume service next week, as part of Phase Four of the province's Reopen plan.

“With these reopenings, virtually every kind of business, facility, service and activity in this province are now reopened,” said Premier Scott Moe.

Beginning on Monday, indoor pools, indoor rinks, indoor sports and activities and the performing arts, will be allowed to reopen.

Casinos and bingo halls will be allowed to reopen starting on Thursday, July 9.

Racetracks and rodeo-related activities are targeted to resume on July 16.

RESTAURANTS AND LICENSED ESTABLISHMENTS

The seating capacity of restaurants will also increase to a level that allows staff and customers to maintain two metres of physical distance, on July 6. Seating capacity is currently limited to 50 per cent.

VLTs, pool tables, dart boards, arcade games and other recreation areas will also reopen on July 6.

Live entertainment is targeted to return on July 16. The province is currently developing guidelines for that.

LARGE GATHERINGS

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the government is not “actively considering” allowing large gatherings anytime soon, but it is looking into resources that could be useful when crowds are given the go-ahead.

“We are looking at the tools that may be available today or could be available in the near future to potentially have that discussion around how you could safely have large gatherings with some efforts around physical distancing,” said Moe.

Moe noted contact tracing apps could be an option to try and reduce the spread of COVID-19, when the province begins to develop guidelines for the resumption of large gatherings.