April 16 Digital Issue

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Page 2 - APRIL 16, 2020 - martensville messenger

MFD Continues to Respond to Steady Amount of Calls Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Brooman stated that this was set in place to

Although the world has changed help maintain both the health and safety of in many ways, one thing is still constant the community member, as well as that of – and that is the brave men and women first responders. around the world that continue to work hard

At this time, day-to-day to keep the rest of us safe. This includes operations remain countless people from “Our main priority during the same with the around the world; however, there is a group this time is to make sure that MFD responding to all calls that in our own community we are providing the best care come in. “We that continues to possible for our community are continually ensure that the people monitoring the of Martensville and and that we can respond Saskatchewan surrounding areas are when you need us most.”

Health Authority taken care of in their Dean Brooman, and adjusting time of need. our protocols to

T h e MFD Deputy Fire Chief match. We are in Martensville Fire constant contact with other fire departments Department (MFD) continues to work making sure our line of communication steadily answering 911 calls throughout with our partners is strong,” Brooman the COVID-19 pandemic and has not added. seen a change in the types of calls being

Currently, their weekly training received. sessions have changed to online training

They have, however, implemented so members can keep up their skills and some changes in order to follow the knowledge by accessing training material guidelines set out by the Saskatchewan online. This also includes weekly video Health Authority (SHA). Now, prior to calls in order to ensure that members are starting treatment of any kind, the MFD kept up-to-date as changes occur. asks a set of designated questions set out

Brooman asks that local residents by the health region to determine any continue to follow updates from the City COVID-19 concerns. They have also of Martensville, as well as the SHA, and purchased Personal Protective Equipment noted that they can follow the MFD on (PPE), which includes a gown, mask, eye Facebook for updates and information protection and gloves in order to protect provided to the public. “Remember to their members, as well as the public. Other practice and encourage good behaviors additions include surgical masks and N-95 such as hand hygiene, physical distancing masks. “We have developed guidelines in social settings, taking care of yourself around how we are to respond to calls and only going out of the house for the and what protection we need both for our absolute essentials,” said Brooman. members and the public,” Deputy Fire

“Our main priority during this Chief Dean Brooman explained. time is to make sure that we are providing

As of April 1st, SHA advised the best care possible for our community that all patients are being asked to apply a and that we can respond when you need us procedural mask prior to firefighter – First most.”

Responder continuing a patient assessment.

LEFT: The MFD received a donation of hand sanitizer from Minhas Sask Distillery, Winery & Brewery in order to help protect their members. See more donations and up-to-date information on the the ‘Martensville Fire Department’ Facebook page.

City Council Discusses Care Home Application and Sask Lottery Grant Funding Allocation Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The City of Martensville held their monthly Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, April 14th. Once again, this meeting was held electronically due to the restrictions that are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the public are still invited to attend, and can do so by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at 306-931-2166 to obtain call in information for the meetings.

The first item on the agenda was a public hearing regarding a discretionary use for a residential care home – type II, at 101 Anna Cres from Oasis Development and Construction Ltd. The City of Martensville received an application from the company to construct and operate a care home at this location, which would house up to ten seniors.

The owner of Oasis Development & Construction Ltd, Jim Goodlad was in attendance to speak to Council about the project and answer any questions or concerns they may have had. Goodlad noted that the company had spoken to people within the community to answer questions and that they were looking forward to going ahead with the project.

In the proposal that was provided to Council, concern about items such as parking, traffic generation, water & wastewater consumption estimates, refuse containment options and screening and more were included. The report stated that Residential Care Homes are not required to follow the Discretionary Use Evaluation Criteria within the R1A District, as those apply to two unit dwellings, semi-detached dwellings and multiple unit dwellings, the applicant has made a significant effort to meet or exceed the criteria. Council voiced some concerns regarding this project, which consisted of how the parking would work, wanting to avoid having numerous vehicles parked on the street, as well as how much waste would be accumulated and proper storage of waste containers so as not to create an eyesore on the street.

Benefits to this project would include the added housing option for seniors, ideal proximity to amenities, including the New Horizon’s Senior Centre and a single family dwelling appearance along the streetscape. Council requested some changes be made to the request and the topic will be brought back to Council next week for formal approval.

City Manager Scott Blevins then spoke to Council regarding a Remote Work Policy proposed by Trent Kolbe, City of Martensville Human Resources & Safety Manager.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous City employees are currently working from home and this policy was created to provide details on the proper structure for this in both short and long-term scenarios.

Ted Schaeffer, Director of Recreation & Community Services, then presented the 2020 Sask Lotteries Grant Funding Allocation to Council. In total, the City of Martensville will receive $74,243 through Sask Lotteries, which will be provided to local schools, organizations and service groups within the community. Funding must be utilized throughout the period from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 and upon completion, groups are required to submit follow-up reports for submission to Sask Lotteries. “Given the unique situation created by COVID-19, administration will work closely with groups to ensure the funding is utilized within the grant period. If projects can’t be completed within the period, funding will be re-allocated accordingly,” Schaeffer stated.

Dillon Shewchuk, Community Economic Development Manager, presented a report to Council with various updates from the past month. One update included the creation of the COVID-19 Task Force, which is a collaboration between the City of Martensville, City of Warman and the Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce. This was created as a forum for businesses to come together to discuss various challenges that they may be facing in these uncertain times.

Shewchuk noted that this was made to act as a response plan for businesses where they can share their experiences, learn more about the various Government funding programs that have been put in place and express concerns about continuing to afford expenses, as well as taking on additional debt.

The COVID-19 Task Force is open to all businesses within Martensville, Warman and the surrounding area and businesses can participate in calls on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 3pm. For more information, contact the Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce.

The next City of Martensville Council meeting will be taking place on Tuesday, April 21st.

martensville messenger - April 16, 2020 - Page 3

Civic Services During the COVID-19 PandemicWhat you should Know!

At this time, all City facilities are closed to the public, including reception areas. City Staff are available to work with the public via phone or email. Questions or inquiries can be directed to City Hall via phone (306-931-2166) or inquiry@martensville.ca during this time.

Residents and Customers are requested to carry out transactions electronically such as online banking, preauthorized payments or TIPPS. Cheques may also be dropped off in the drop slot at City Hall.

After Hour Water and Sewer Emergencies - should still be directed through the Emergency line at City Hall, (306) 931-2166, ext.1.

Protective Services - There are no changes in duty or status to Protective Services such as the RCMP, Martensville Fire Department, and Ambulance Service.

Water and Sewer - These services remain unimpacted and unchanged, including water quality testing. Meter reading will continue to take place; however, staff will not be doing reads of meters located inside of homes or occupied buildings. In these cases, estimates will be taken or reads can be provided into City Hall. In respect to water and sewer emergencies, city staff will not be able to enter resident homes at this time and private contractors should be considered. The City of Martensville will no longer be charging interest on water and sewer accounts indefinitely to assist residents impacted by COVID -19 impacts.

Garbage and Recycling - Services remain in place and on schedule with no anticipated service delays at this time.

Road Maintenance - will continue as required, including snow removal, and is not expected to change at this time.

Stay Informed! -The City of Martensville has created a dedicated webpage to provide information, updates and additional resources around the COVID-19 pandemic. This page is accessible through the homepage at Martensville.ca.

Please continue to follow us, media sources and information from the Province of Saskatchewan for the most current information around updates or new measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19

Protect your Property and Be Ready for Spring Thaw

With prolonged cold temperatures and snow accumulation, and now moving into milder climates, we are expecting a rapid melt. This may lead to seepage of water into basement or water to accumulate on property. We are all responsible to protect our own property and mitigate any potential risks. Provided are some helpful tips and tasks to help prevent water seeping into your basement or accumulating on your property.

1. Extend downspouts at least two metres (six feet) from your basement walls. The further the water is from the foundation, the less chance that it will make its way into your basement. Splash pads can help direct the water to a permeable surface, such as a garden or lawn. Clear debris from your eavestroughs (gutters) to prevent them from overflowing. If your eavestroughs or downspouts overflow even when they are clean, install larger ones.

2. Consider moving snow away from the foundation of your home, to prevent a large degree of melting immediately adjacent to your foundation.

3. Ensure proper grading around your home and property or build up the ground slope around your home. Soil should slope down from your foundation and window wells for at least two to three metres (about six to ten feet) at a drop of at least 10-20 centimetres (about four to eight inches). If water soaks into the ground within the backfill zone, it will accumulate next to your basement walls and floor, where it can leak in or damage the foundation. Check your ground slope annually, because soil, sidewalks, patios, decks and driveways can settle over time. You can find grade elevation information on Martensville.ca 4. Check the drainage paths on your property. Ensure that storm water flows to the lane or street, not towards your home. It also shouldn’t flow into your neighbour’s yard.

Property should be graded to keep water flowing in the right direction. If water pools on your property, consider pumping it to the street.

5. Fix leaks in basement walls, floors, windows and doors.

6. If you have protective plumbing, such as backflow valves and sump pumps, make sure they are working properly.

7. If you are away from your property for a period (2-3 days) have someone check the property to ensure water is not coming into the basement.

8. Elevate and/or store important equipment and personal items as to avoid damage in case of water seepage.

City crews will ensure streets, catch basins, and drain ways are clear to ensure the spring melt does not back up on city streets and onto properties so we can all enjoy and have a worry-free spring.

For more information or to report an issue, contact Martensville City Hall or visit Martensville.ca

Lane Usage During Spring Thaw The City of Martensville encourages residents, for which their lane is a secondary means of access to their property, to limit their usage of lanes during the spring thaw.

Heavy or repetitive vehicle usage during spring thaw and wet conditions can cause further rutting and reduce drainage. This limits the ability of crews to conduct maintenance on the lanes in a timely manner and increases the amount of materials and time required to reshape lanes.

For questions or further information please contact Pubic Works at 931-2166.

April Council Meeting Dates

Please Note: The upcoming Council Schedule may be subject to change based around any potential new developments around the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anyone interested in attending is strongly encouraged to contact the City Clerk prior to planning to attend.

Regular Council- April 21st The Regular Council Meetings are located at Martensville City Hall Council Chambers.

Martensville City Hall at 37 Centennial Dr. S. All Regular Council Meetings and Committee of the Whole Meetings are open to the public. All meetings commence at 5PM. Those wishing to address or do a presentation to Council must be placed on the agenda.

To be placed on the agenda please contact the City Clerk’s office at City Hall or visit the website for details.

The Council and Committee of the Whole Schedule can be obtained at martensville.ca

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Lake Vista Elementary Offers Advice to Parents to Help Motivate Children for Learning

MHS Appreciates Families Working Together With Them

Like the rest of the schools in Saskatchewan, Martensville High School has transitioned to online supplemental learning. Thank you to all our MHS families who have worked with us to determine what classes students will be continuing with as we move forward. This has been greatly appreciated.

We are off for the week of April 10-19, with online activities resuming on Monday, April 20th. As we move forward, we still want students to contact us if they are having issues connecting or if their circumstances change and they would like to re-engage in school.

All inquiries can be sent to our school email at mhs@spiritsd.ca. We hope all our families enjoy the Easter break and stay healthy and safe!

Students Take Advantage of Opportunity to Continue Learning

ABOVE: Cohen Lester, a grade 4 student from Venture Heights Elementary School has taken advantage of the online school option to go over some science lessons. (Submitted)

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We are living in a time where so much has changed in a short period of time. Some of those changes are hitting people really hard—both young and old. And now, on top of the changes that have already happened we’re asking you, and your young ones, to figure out how to support school at home. It’s a lot. Some kids may avoid having to sit down and “do” school at home (and some parents are going to feel anxious about the idea as well). But we will get through this together. You’ve faced 5001 different kinds of challenges as parents and you have figured them out. You will figure something out that works for you and your family for school as well. And we are here to help you do that.

Suggestions for motivating students to do schoolwork at home: 1) Set the stage for school by looking forward to reconnecting with their teacher rather than talking about “having to start school”. Saying things like “It’ll be so great to hear from Ms./Mr. ____ on tomorrow. I know they’ve been missing you. I wonder what they’ll ask you to do?”. Using a tone of interest/excitement to look forward to reconnecting may help shift a child’s focus away from not wanting to work and toward being curious about what’s coming.

2) Determine in yourself that school/learning is going to happen. Your child may need to have a meltdown(s) about it but your resolve needs to stay strong because you know that this is important for your child. You can weather meltdowns knowing that learning is worth the upset that comes your way. Back off and take breaks as necessary but keep the goal of learning in mind even as you’re backing off for the moment. Give permission for the meltdown while keeping the goal in front of your child “I can see you need a meltdown right now. That’s OK. Learning will wait until we’re ready for it.”

3) Set your family up for success whenever you can. Ensure everyone sticks to a regular sleep schedule/routine (as much as you are able given the circumstances). I realize that some people may be working from home and needing to manage young children while they do it. Recognizing your own limitations is important in those situations. Do the best you can for you and your kids given the time and resources that you have.

4) Make a flexible schedule with your kids (use pictures if that’s helpful). Let them see when school will be and when play will be. Make sure play is worked in and amongst the harder things they have to do so that they get breaks. The regular school day has a rhythm and flow. Teachers schedule activities that bring kids together, then something that requires lots of concentration, then something that allows for brains to rest and relax a bit, and then creative activities, so it makes sense for learning at home to have rest periods worked into their day.

5) Read your child. If they seem tired give them a 10-15 minute break. Whenever possible, make that break focus on something other than technology as the shift back to work will often be easier to manage if you’re not removing them from a screen.

6) Mix up their work tasks. Think about interspersing paper/pencil work, movement, quiet time, outside time, music, and art activities.

7) Use First/then language. “First we’ll do these ELA questions then we’ll play a game” or “We’ll play a game as soon as we’ve done ____.”

8) Chunk work. Give your child a few questions to do and then take a break or switch to a task they like more.

9) Take breaks!! If you’re getting frustrated and/or they’re getting frustrated, take a break.

Teach them about selfregulation by demonstrating what wonderful things breaks are. And teach them to recognize the signs in themselves that they need a break “My stomach feels all tight, my shoulders hurt, and my brain just doesn’t want to work right now. I’m feeling frustrated. Are you noticing some of the same things?”

10) Limit screen time until after schoolwork is done if you can. I know this might be hard if you have multiple kids needing to share one device so you’ll obviously need to be flexible in how you arrange this.

11) Use timers. You can use the one on the stove or, if your kids have access to a phone or tablet, there are free visual timer apps to use.

12) Integrate your child’s interests into what they’re learning when you can. Sometimes this can lead into fun projects which is huge in terms of motivation.

13) Switching to school at home will be a challenge for many kids. Sitting with them while they’re working will be helpful to start.

You can then gradually “fade out” as routine is established (you can start by “needing to go to the washroom” while they’re working etc.)

14) Focus most of your child’s academic work in the morning if you can. We all become more tired as the day goes on which makes learning more of a challenge later in the day.

15) Surprise them with little rewards. Catch them on task and sneak them a little treat occasionally.

16) Celebrate together when the school day is done. “Wow…that was a challenge but we got through it. That feels good. How are you feeling?” or “Wow…that was easier than I thought it was going to be. Feels good to get it done though doesn’t it?”

17) Reach out! We are here to help you – if you and/or your child are struggling please let the school know and we will do our best to help you.

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The Wireless Age is Helping Keep Loved Ones Connected

martensville messenger - April 16, 2020 - Page 5

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

After seeing a video of Dr. Hassan Masri; a US and Canadian Internal Medicine and ICU Board Certified Physician based in Saskatoon and an Associate Professor of Medicine and Critical Care at the University of Saskatchewan; Jaime Holowaty, the Branch Manager at the Martensville location of The Wireless Age, wanted to contribute to helping those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On one of his posts, Dr. Hassan Masri requested that local companies donate iPads to the Intensive Care Units in Saskatoon so people could stay in contact with their loved ones. From there, Holowaty contacted her Regional Manager and suggested the idea, which was immediately approved. Another store manager put together the iPads and iPhones and arranged for pick-up.

In total, 4 iPads and 7 iPhones were donated to the ICU departments at Royal University Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon.

“I am so proud of The Wireless Age and everyone involved with helping loved ones stay connected. I can’t imagine being isolated and not being able to communicate with the people that I love. This is our small way of helping the people in Saskatchewan stay connected,” Holowaty said.

Since social-distancing was recommended by the province, Holowaty said that there have been numerous family members coming into the store to set up older devices or iPads for their loved ones. “A lot of people in care homes or nursing homes do not have any way to see their loved ones at this time, so we are able to connect them with technology so they can still see each other.”

Since mid-March, businesses across the province have been affected by COVID-19, and have been forced to change the way they operate on a day-to-day basis.

For The Wireless Age, this means allowing only one customer into the store at a time, which makes it easier for staff and customers to remain a safe distance apart in order to keep everyone safe. “We are asking that customers call us first so we can try to help them over the phone as much as possible.

We are encouraging customers to make phone or web orders when possible and we are providing contactless curbside pickup or free, same-day shipping province wide on all orders,” Holowaty explained.

“These may be challenging times for all, but we’ll make it through this. In the meantime, we are still here to help you with all of your cellular needs, but we are trying to do as much as we can over the phone or online.” You can contact (306) 242-5499 or visit www.thewirelessage.com for more information.

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ABOVE: The Wireless Age recently made a donation of 4 iPads and 7 iPhones to the Intensive Care Units at the Royal University Hospital and at St Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon.

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Page 6 - APRIL 16, 2020 - martensville messenger

Provincial Politics with

Murray Mandryk

Statistics Show Gains in COVID-19 Fight

Want some good news in the COVID-19 fight?

One strongly suspects you do. You probably need some good news after a month of fighting this virus.

Self-isolating at home and not being able to see friends and family and trying to keep six feet apart of everyone you meet as if they might be trying to steal your wallet or your pursue can be very exhausting and as if health concerns were not enough, we also have to deal with the prospects of what all of this is doing to the economy and how long it might take to recover.

It’s all been exhausting and the end is not necessarily in sight. To get through this, we need to keep in mind that this will be a long fight with setbacks. We will get through this, but there are going to be many hurdles along the way.

Those ups and downs will the hardest part; especially, when it seems the “downs” always seem to be accompanied by tragic news of death. So to get through this bad news, let’s glean through the numbers to find something positive. And the numbers do show positive things. Let’s start with the numbers of new cases that; as of the writing of this column; seem to be trending in the right direction.

Early last week before the Easter weekend, Saskatchewan registered just four new cases on April 6 and only seven cases on April 7.

The single-digit daily increase might be a bit misleading in that we know that for any one COVID-19 positive test, there are many times more cases where people haven’t been diagnosed; but even if one views the diagnosed cases like polling, it’s obviously good news to see smaller numbers.

What the numbers also show is the value of social-distancing and perhaps the natural advantage that Rural Saskatchewan may enjoy for a change.

As of April 7, the case numbers show that out of the total 260 cases, 131 are in Saskatoon, 52 in Regina and 48 in the north. (The disproportionally high northern numbers are largely due to an infection at a snowmobile club banquet in Christopher Lake, showing exactly why Premier Scott Moe’s government wisely imposed the strict rules prohibiting public gatherings to less than 250 people and then later limited gatherings to less than 10 people.)

That left four cases in the far north, 10 in central Saskatchewan and 15 in southern Saskatchewan. With only 25 known cases in that vast area we call “rural Saskatchewan”, statistics show it might very well be one of the safest places on Earth.

So good have our strategies been at reducing these case numbers that, for the first time since Saskatchewan’s first case on March 12, we had more people who had recovered from COVID-19 in a day (14) than new identified cases (four).

That had led government to produce a new, positive statistic; called “active cases” that totaled 169 as of April 7. (That was based on 260 known cases and 88 recoveries.)

Here is a statistic that’s really promising: The number of “active cases” a week early on March 30 was only 159. In other words, there were only 10 additional active cases in a week.

This is literally what we mean when we say “Flatten the Curve”; limiting the growth so our emergency rooms aren’t swamped.

And here is a bit more good statistical news: At 214 cases per million people, Saskatchewan has a lower rate of COVID-19 known infections than anywhere in Canada and the U.S. other than Minnesota and West Virginia. (And those two states are testing at half the rate.)

It’s a long fight, we haven’t won and there will be setbacks; but the numbers show we are making progress.

Price Gouging Prohibited In Saskatchewan During Pandemic

Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) is informing Saskatchewan businesses that grossly excessive pricing of products or services during a period of crisis that takes advantage of consumers who are unable to protect their own interests due to the impact of the crisis is not permitted. Businesses could face regulatory action and prosecution if found to have engaged in this conduct as it is an unfair business practice contrary to The Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act.

“During this unprecedented time it is simply unacceptable to be price gouging,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. “Businesses or individuals in Saskatchewan found price gouging will face stiff penalties and possibly jail time. It is essential that we look out for each other and this government will protect residents of Saskatchewan from exploitation when they are trying to protect their families.”

The prohibition on price gouging does not prevent businesses from reasonably raising prices, for instance, to cover increased costs of acquiring inventory. However, businesses that impose grossly excessive price increases on consumer goods or services during periods of crisis may be found guilty of committing an unfair practice.

Consumers that observe price gouging either in advertisements or before, during, or after a transaction are encouraged to do one or more of the following: • Call FCAA’s consumer protection tip hotline at 1-877-880-5550 to provide information.

• File a tip through FCAA’s website at https://fcaa.gov.sk.ca/consumers-investors-pension-plan-members/consumers/ consumers-of-goods-and-services/combatting-grossly-excessive-prices.

• File a formal complaint using the FCAA complaint portal at https://fcaa.saskatchewan.ca/apex/f?p=200:RUN:0::::PRUN_ PROC_ID:12589&cs=17E037060D51B5ACC686E7CC6BF0E21D6 • If possible, register a complaint with the supplier.

Consumers can also register an on-line complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) at https://www.bbb.org/ consumer-complaints/.

Consumers should keep all receipts, contracts and advertisements that help demonstrate that price gouging is occurring or has occurred during the period of crisis or emergency.

For more information about price gouging visit https://fcaa.gov.sk.ca/consumers-investors-pension-planmembers/consumers/consumers-of-goods-and-services/combatting-grossly-excessive-prices.

SHA Strengthens Screening And Masking Requirements

On April 14th, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced proactive measures and precautions to combat COVID-19 and ensure safety in SHA facilities, including new screening and masking requirements for health care providers.

Starting April 15, staff, physicians, learners, trainees, vendors and contractors will be screened daily as they enter any SHA facility or program area to ensure they do not have any influenza like illness. As an added level of protection all staff and physicians who work in patient/client/resident care areas or travel through those areas will be wearing a mask at all times. These measures are being put in place to protect everyone from exposure to, and spread of COVID-19.

“Safety is our top priority,” Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone said. “That is why we continue to escalate our efforts to protect our patients and health care providers. Requiring these daily screening practices and adapting our approach to masking will help us stop the spread of COVID-19 and help protect our workforce to ensure our health care services are there when needed.”

The implementation of screening measures will be phased in throughout the SHA facilities including long-term care facilities and programs, including long-term care facilities, hospitals, primary care sites, as well as affiliates working toward a standard of daily screening and temperature checks twice daily consistent with self-monitoring and the most recent health Canada guidelines.

The SHA appreciates the understanding of the public as these additional measures to ensure the safety of our patients and 20043SS0 health care workers are implemented in the coming days.

The SHA continues to remind the public that the key variable for saving lives and protecting health care workers is public compliance with isolation measures, physical distancing, effective hand washing and staying home whenever and wherever possible.

Saskatchewan residents can continue to help by taking specific action, including: • Practicing good hygiene, washing hands regularly and practicing physical distancing (two metres apart wherever possible); • Taking care of family, friends and neighbours who may be affected by mandatory self-isolation orders; • Abide by provincial and local travel, self-isolation, event and gathering restrictions; • Use medical supplies effectively and efficiently so that they are there when needed; and • Avoid visiting our hospitals and long-term care facilities, unless there are compassionate reasons for doing so.

For more information, please visit www.saskatchewan. ca/COVID19.

Letter to the Editor

The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be signed and a phone number and/or email address included so the writer’s identity can be verified. ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste. Submit your letter to news@ martensvillemessenger.ca or mail to Box 333 - Martensville, SK S0K 2T0.

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