The City of Saskatoon has announced it has laid off its casual staff.
In a press release, the city said Tuesday these employees have no scheduled hours due to ongoing closures resulting from COVID-19 safety measures, and layoffs give them a chance to file for employment insurance as soon as possible.
The total number of casual staff that were laid off Monday by the city was 126.
It said casual employees, including lifeguards and cashier-receptionists, are typically scheduled on a weekly-to-monthly basis, based on need.
The city manager said they are reassessing the way public services are delivered and that significant layoffs are not expected among permanent staff in the coming weeks.
“Our people matter, and we must be financially responsible, especially now as many citizens and businesses are hurting and are directly affected by the pandemic,” Jeff Jorgenson said.
He added the city is looking to carry on its plan to keep as many services running as possible so the city is in a strong position once the state of emergency measures have been removed.
Public transit
The press release also asked for transit commuters to only use bus service for essential travel.
It also said, when possible, people in a wheelchair should use the rear-facing wheelchair station and buckle themselves in to prevent close contact with a bus driver.
Gordon Howe Campground
The Gordon Howe Campground is suspending its visitor services and will stop taking new reservations until May 1.
The city added the grounds’ reopening will be determined by the status of COVID-19.
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are asked to self-isolate for 14 days in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
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