Sask. health authority has issued $45K in COVID-19 fines since start of pandemic

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has issued eight fines totalling$44,800, including victim surcharges, to people or corporations that have broken COVID-19public health guidelines since the pandemic started in March.

The number of people alonefinedis unclear but two corporations are among thosehit with charges, according to data shared Monday with CBC News by Saskatchewan's Ministry of Health.

Of the total, $32,000 consisted of actual fines while the rest was made up victim impact surcharges.

Those fined vary froma Saskatoon homeownerwho hosted a private gathering with 47 people when the limit for private meetingswas 30 (it's nowfive), to the pastor ofa gospel outreach centre in Prince Albertwhere singers went unmasked. The gospel centre was cited as a multi-jurisdictional superspreader.

Two corporations were also financially disciplined.

The data is reflective of the province's approach so far to policing breaches of self-isolation or gathering limit orders, which was to first educate people about the need to follow guidelines instead of going directly to a fine.

That era may be coming to an end, however.

On Friday, Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, said "the time for education is now mostly over," adding that "it is important to report noncompliance."

The numbers reported by the ministry aredifferent from those of the RCMP, which issues its own charges under the province's Public Health Act.

Between March 1 and Oct.31, RCMP members in Saskatchewan receiveda total of2,912COVID-related calls for service an average of 364 calls a month.

The vast majority of the calls were resolved "by educating members of the public of the potential health and enforcement consequences that can result from non-compliance with the public health order," an RCMP spokesperson said Friday.

However, 42 charges forsummary violations were issued under the province's Public Health Act, including for people who held large gatherings or did not self-isolate.