The Saskatchewanderer becomes sofa-wanderer amid COVID-19 restrictions

Almost everyone has seen a change in their job description due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When your job requires you to travel the province, and experience everything it has to offer, changes must be made.

“I’ve kind of really switched into virtual wandering where my homebase is of course at home in Saskatoon, and then hopefully along the way I’ll still be able to make content, still be able to connect with businesses and just keep it going no matter what.” Says Leah Mertz, who was announced as the 10th Saskatchewanderer at the start of 2020.

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Even though Mertz can’t physically get out and wander, she is still trying local restaurants through delivery services, as well as participating in online yoga classes.

“There’s so many incredible initiatives happening all over, like so many businesses and even different destinations around the province have shifted their offerings to being virtual,” Mertz says.

“There’s so many programs people can tap into.”

Mertz plans to draw on past wanderer’s explorations and refresh the old content into something new.

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.

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.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.