The mayors of the Battlefords continue to promote caution as the Re-Open Saskatchewan date approaches (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Keaton Brown

stay vigilant

Mayors continue to promote caution as Re-Open Saskatchewan date approaches

Apr 30, 2020 | 2:00 PM

As the province looks forward to next week’s phase one of Re-Open Saskatchewan, the town and city mayors continue to promote caution.

North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater said a lot of people in the province are eager to expand their social circles and return to some form or normalcy.

“Re-Open Saskatchewan was introduced last week by the premier and since then it has been suggested that people could open up their social circles a little bit,” he said.

Bater said he would like to see people exercise caution during this time, especially with the new cases recorded in La Loche and Lloydminster.

“There is an outbreak up in La Loche. There have also been new cases identified in the city of Lloydminster at the hospital. The province has let us know that there have been five healthcare workers and eight patients who have been identified as positive for COVID-19,” he said.

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Bater said the proximity of these two municipalities to the Battlefords means residents here need to remain attentive.

“It is important for people here in the Battlefords to consider because Lloydminster is our neighbour and in fact we share a highway with Lloydminster but we also share a highway with La Loche. The reality here is that we do have to remain vigilant,” he said.

Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said the outbreaks in both La Loche and Lloydminster were a cause for concern in the Battlefords.

“It is definitely not welcome news. It doesn’t make a person warm and fuzzy that May 4 is only four days away which is the first step of phase one of re-opening,” he said.

Leslie said while his community is taking the appropriate steps and adhering to social distancing, some people are starting to relax a little too much.

“I think we need to check ourselves a little bit. We are starting to fall back into the old norm and we are not quite there yet, we need to take a step back,” he said.

Leslie said he can sympathize with people who are starting to feel cooped up.

“I now know why the dog dashes out the door as soon as the door opens because we’ve been locked behind that door for so long. Now that the proverbial door is open, we are all running out that door a little too quick,” he said.

Bater echoed Leslie’s comments.

“The COVID-19 virus is still around and it is still a threat. We can’t be throwing caution to the wind and abandoning all the distancing practices and the hygiene and cleanliness. We have to maintain that,” he said.

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keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow