New health restrictions in effect

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This article was published 20/04/2021 (2027 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New public health orders for the province took effect at 12:01 a.m. today, as public health officials attempt to gain control of a third wave of the pandemic as it rolls into Manitoba.

With the tighter restrictions, Premier Brian Pallister hopes it will slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus while avoiding shutting down more of the economy.

“The orders right here are our last chance to flatten our curve before we will have to revert back to more stringent public health restrictions,” chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said at Monday’s joint press conference with the premier.

“Despite our best collective efforts and having some of the strictest measures in the country, COVID-19 cases and particularly variants of concern are on the rise,” said Pallister. “Introducing more restrictive measures is not what many of us want to hear right now, but it’s what we need to do to protect Manitobans and our health-care system.”

 

NEWEST RESTRICTIONS

As of today at 12:01 a.m., the following restrictions will take effect in the province:

• All households will be limited to two designated visitors indoors;

• Outdoor gatherings on public and private property will be limited to a maximum of 10 people, including household members;

• Community, cultural and religious gatherings are to be limited to 25 per cent capacity or 50 people, whichever is lower, with indoor masks in place except when members of the same household are seated when appropriately distanced from others and not singing or chanting;

• Weddings and funerals will be reduced to 10 people, in addition to an officiant and photographer or videographer;

On Wednesday at 12:01 a.m, retail store capacity will be limited to one-third of the store or up to 333 customers, whichever is lower. Malls will be limited to 33 per cent of the facility’s capacity.

These restrictions will be in place until May 12, according to the province.

 

NO CHANGES

• There are no changes in restaurant and bar capacity. Currently, the capacity limit is 50 per cent with the requirement for tables to sit with only household members, and other public health measures in effect;

• Casinos and VLTS must continue to remain closed. VLTs in a business may operate if each machine is separated by at least two metres of distance or by a non-permeable barrier;

• Gyms, fitness and indoor recreation facilities will remain at limited capacity of 25 per cent with public health measures in place including for spectators and in common areas and locker rooms. Masks must be worn at all times except while swimming;

• Museums, galleries and libraries will remain at a capacity limit of 25 per cent or up to 250 people, whichever is lower;

• Movie theatres and concert halls will continue to remain closed.

• Personal services will remain at a capacity limit of 50 per cent with public health measures in place.

While Ontario recently announced interprovincial border restrictions, Manitoba’s borders will remain open.

 

MONDAY’S COVID UPDATE

A total of 108 new cases of COVID-19 were announced on Monday, including 10 from Prairie Mountain Health. There are a total of 36,267 lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba.

There were no deaths linked to COVID-19 reported at Monday’s noon press conference.

The following is how Monday’s cases broke down by health region:

• 12 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;

• five cases in the Northern health region;

• 10 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;

• 18 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and

• 63 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate was 5.7 per cent in the province and 5.7 per cent in Winnipeg.

There are 1,685 active cases and 33,623 people who have recovered from COVID-19.

The province reported 62 people in hospital with active COVID-19, as well as 70 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 132 hospitalizations.

Fifteen people are in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 15 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 30 intensive care patients.

There have been 711 cases of variants of concern identified in Manitoba, 213 active cases and 496 people who have recovered.

Of those 711 cases, 613 cases are of the B.1.1.7 variant, 76 are unspecified, 19 are of the B.1.135 variant and one is of the P1 variant. Two people have died.

In Prairie Mountain Health, there are 22 active cases of the B.1.1.7 variant and two unspecified cases. There have been 2,200 people who have recovered from the virus. There have been 56 deaths in Prairie Mountain Health to date.

An outbreak was declared at the Dauphin Personal Care Home. The facility has been moved to critical (red) level.

Russell Health Care Centre was moved to critical according to the provincial COVID dashboard at gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/flights.html#event