(Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

By Britton Gray

Moe hopeful as Saskatchewan begins Phase 1 of reopening plan

May 4, 2020 | 11:41 AM

The first step towards normality — whatever that may be following the COVID-19 pandemic — is being taken by Saskatchewan on Monday.

Phase 1 of the province’s five-phase plan to reopen the economy gets underway with medical services, such as optometrists and dentists, once again able to open their doors to customers.

“I hope it does start to allow individuals the opportunity to slowly start stepping out of where we’ve been the last month and start stepping back into some type of a new normal of how society is going to operate for some period of time until at least we have access to a vaccine,” Premier Scott Moe told Gormley on Monday.

Phase 1 also allows for boat launches (Monday), golf courses to open (May 15) and campgrounds to open (June 1).

Phase 2, which will allow some retail businesses and personal services to open, is set to begin May 19. There are no dates set for the remaining phases.

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Moe said the plan is cautious by design.

“We have a relatively low number of COVID cases here in Saskatchewan. We do have a couple outbreaks that we are managing but for the vast communities across this province, we have flattened the curve on COVID-19,” Moe said.

As of Monday morning, there were 433 cases of COVID-19 across the province. Higher numbers are being seen in northern communities and a few areas, including Beauval and La Loche, have been deemed to be dealing with outbreaks of the virus.

“We want to reopen but we don’t want to rush into a plan that may put some of the success that we have had at risk,” Moe said.

The plan is designed to be able to adapt as the situation around COVID-19 changes and how businesses plan on putting in safety restrictions to help stop the spread of the virus. The plan has already changed in regards to the opening of golf courses — people are now able to rent golf clubs if disinfectant is used before and after each use — as well as some stores.

“Nobody has had to reopen an economy before,” Moe said. “This is new for all.”

Moe said the government is working with businesses daily to determine the best way to approach the economy during the pandemic.

The province will also look at the possibility of beginning the process of getting elective surgeries and other services the health-care system provides back on track.

“We need to get that up and running sooner rather than later,” Moe said.