At the latest COVID-19 news conference on June 1. Premier Scott said all restrictions could be lifted as early as July 11 if certain thresholds are reached.
He reported the province is close to meeting its Step Three threshold of the Re-opening Roadmap 鈥� that being 70 per cent of people 18 and older having received their first dose of vaccine.
He said three weeks after 70 per cent of all eligible Saskatchewan residents age 12 and over have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and once at least three weeks have passed since the beginning of Step Two on June 20, the last two Public Health orders on event and gathering size limits and masking policies will be removed.
This could conceivably happen by July 1 if they meet vaccination targets by June 20.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really up to us, the people of Saskatchewan, and how many of us make the choice to protect ourselves, protect those around us, take the time to go and get vaccinated,鈥� Premier Moe said.
鈥淭hat is really what this is all about. The goal isn鈥檛 to just meet some target number that has been provided. The goal is to protect Saskatchewan people and families so we can re-open our communities and our opportunities safely.鈥�
The province is confident in removing the remaining restrictions, Moe said, because the vaccines are working. He said they are driving down case numbers and hospitalization numbers across Canada and the world.
Tuesday, 62 per cent of people 12+ in Saskatchewan have received their first dose.
Moe noted the United States has moved forward with their reopening plan much faster than they have in Saskatchewan, with lower vaccination rates, and their case numbers continue to fall. Moe said they are taking a more cautious approach with higher levels of vaccinations required.
Even once the mask order is removed, Moe said everyone should feel comfortable if they choose to wear a mask in certain situations if they see fit. 鈥淓veryone should do precisely what they feel comfortable doing.鈥�
Moe urged people to go out and get vaccinated.
鈥淟et鈥檚 get this done, Saskatchewan,鈥� Moe said. 鈥淲e have had public health orders in place now for 445 days.听 They could all be removed in just a little over a month from now, if enough of us choose to go out and get vaccinated."
In his remarks, Saskatchewan chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said second doses were starting out strong and he referred to June and July as 鈥渂lockbuster months for vaccine supply.鈥�
鈥淎gain, I think it remains critical that we step forward not only for first doses if we haven鈥檛 already, but also as soon as we become eligible based on either age or based on date of first dose and get that second dose in a timely way,鈥� said Dr. Shahab. 鈥淭he quicker we move along the safer we all are to enable Step Three to start on time.鈥�
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