The Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbours (SIGN) has released its re鈥恛pening plan but will strictly follow the provincial government鈥檚 guidelines in getting back to business as it was before the Covid鈥�19 pandemic, Executive Director Andrew Sedley says.
鈥淔ollowing consultation with Public Health, we have received approval to move forward with this plan鈥�, Sedley notes. 鈥淧ublic Health has asked that we remain cautious in our approach to re鈥恛pening, and we recognize that our plans may need to be re鈥恊valuated based on community transmissions or if an outbreak happens in communities we serve.鈥�
Since mid鈥怣arch SIGN staff has been primarily working from home, meeting with clients and providing programs and services by telephone and video conferences.
Since the start of work鈥恌rom鈥恏ome, three SIGN programs have continued to operate face鈥恡o鈥恌ace, although with many precautions in place. There is no other way to provide the services of Senior Mobility, SIGN Early Learning Centre (daycare) and the Adolescent Group home, and those services were essential to maintain, 聽Sedley noted.
The government鈥檚 Phase 2, effective May 19 will not result in any changes to the way SIGN operates.聽聽
When Phase 3 is implemented, SIGN will begin to methodically implement re鈥恛pening of services. Some staff will be able to go to their offices for short periods of time if the work they need to do cannot be done from home. However, staff will be encouraged to continue to work from home whenever possible.
Physical distancing must be maintained when staff is working in the office or in public. Waiting areas in all SIGN facilities will have chairs placed at least six feet apart, and all clients will be screened before any in鈥恜erson meetings take place. Clients and staff will be strongly encouraged to wear mouth coverings.
Staff must stay at home if they are sick or if they demonstrate or report Covid鈥�19 symptoms. Regular practice of hand washing, and enhanced sanitization of workspaces will continue.
SIGN on Broadway, which houses most of the SIGN programs, and the Elton Davidge Building on North Street will remain closed to the public until Phase 4, when gatherings of up to 30 persons will be allowed.聽聽
Public meetings up to that size will be allowed then, but meeting spaces will be set up to ensure physical distancing, and enhanced sanitation methods will be in place.
Staff will continue to work from home whenever practical until the final Phase 5 is implemented by the provincial government.聽聽
At that time, all SIGN services will resume to operate as they did prior to the COVID鈥�19 pandemic. However, additional precautions will remain in place.聽聽
Hand hygiene stations will be available at all entrances of SIGN facilities and all staff and visitors will be expected to use them. Hand hygiene posters will remain in all public washrooms. A staff member who is sick will be expected to stay home, and SIGN will follow the government of Saskatchewan鈥檚 guidance on size limits on public gatherings.
The complete Re鈥恛pening Plan for SIGN Services and Programs is available at .
聽鈥淚t鈥檚 been a challenging few months, and that will continue for some time yet,鈥� 聽Sedley said. 鈥淒uring our virtual staff meeting this week I thanked all staff for what they do daily to support individuals and families. The support they provide, although we are doing it in a different way, makes a difference in the lives of many members of our communities.鈥�
