Today marks six months since the Sask. Party government declared a province-wide state of emergency. Hindsight is 20/20 and no one could have predicted back then exactly what was yet to come. From the mass purchasing of toilet paper to wearing face masks into banks, life as we knew it was going to change. Here is a brief look back at some of the photos Leader-Post photojournalists captured in and around the Queen City.
Amid concerns around COVID-19, a woman wheels a shopping cart containing toilet paper at Costco on March 14. The store was sold out of toilet paper by mid-afternoon on that Saturday and a staff member said they witnessed a customer attempting to buy toilet paper from other customers who were able to purchase some.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostFrom right, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Health Minister Jim Reiter, Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab and Deputy Premier Gord Wyant walk down the steps to announce a province-wide state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 18.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostA few days before the state of emergency was declared, Moe listens to Shahab address questions from members of the media to give an update on the province’s response to COVID-19 on March 13.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostThe parking lot of Casino Regina sits largely empty on March 20 after the venue was closed.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostA worker wraps “caution” tape around a playground structure in the Kiwanis Park area on March 25.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostScarth Street, as it intersects with 11th Avenue at the Cornwall Centre mall, is shown on a cold spring morning on April 1. This area, normally a hub of bustling downtown activity, saw far less foot traffic in the early days of the pandemic.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostStaff Sgt. Brad Walter, left, and Const. Tyler Lerat demonstrate part of the fitment process for respiratory protection masks being undertaken by the Regina Police Service at the service’s headquarters on March 19. The masks are used to protect front line officers against the COVID-19 virus in instances where they need to come into contact with an individual who may have the virus. The hood worn by Walter is used during fitment only. A scent is introduced into the hood to ensure proper mask use.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostMembers of Regina’s city council meet in a nearly empty council chambers to discuss city matters surrounding COVID-19 at City Hall on March 20. Members of the council not present in person participated in the meeting through online means.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostMembers of the Regina Police Service, Regina Fire Protective Services and Dakota Towing made their way around the Regina General Hospital with the lights, sirens and horns to show appreciation for health care workers on April 1.Photo by TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-PostPeople stand in line at the Co-op grocery store in Fort Qu’Appelle on April 17. Many grocery stores imposed limits and regulations designed to protect customers and staff during the pandemic.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostDouglas Park and Leibel Field sat empty for months as Regina sports groups waited for the lifting of restrictions.Photo by TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-PostA pretty much empty beach on a nice afternoon in Regina Beach on May 8.Photo by TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-PostDue to travel restrictions in place for COVID-19, the Regina International Airport, shown on May 21, has been much quieter than usual with only a tiny fraction of its usual passenger trafficPhoto by TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-PostKelly Cairns, a co-owner of the staff-owned restaurant and venue The Cure, stands at the bar in the venue on 11th Avenue in Regina on June 19. The restaurant is reopened at half capacity and hosting some live shows after having shut down completely.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostA long line of people waited outside just before 9 a.m. as Casino Regina reopened for the first time since closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic on July 9.Photo by TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-PostHenry Funke, operations manager for Regina Public Schools, demonstrates one of the Greco sprayers being used to disinfect surfaces of possible COVID-19 during a news conference held at Campbell Collegiate on Aug. 25.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-PostA health worker demonstrates how a COVID-19 swab test would be conducted at the Saskatchewan Health Authority drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility on Sept. 8.Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-Post
