The Southern Health region will be moved to Critical (red) starting Monday, November 9.
The announcement came on Friday as Manitoba’s chief public health officer stressed that case numbers in the region — which includes Portage la Prairie — continue to move in the wrong direction, and that further action is required.
Changes in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region mirror those in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region including:
• Bars and restaurants will be closed except for take-out and delivery.
• Most retail will be reduced to 25 per cent capacity.
• Sports and recreation programming will be suspended.
• Gyms and fitness centres will have reduced capacity to 25 per cent and masks will be mandatory, even when exercising.
• Movie theatres and concert halls will close.
• Personal services have no change and stay at 50 per cent capacity.
• Faith-based gatherings are reduced to 15 per cent or 100 people, whichever is lower.
• Non-urgent and elective surgeries and diagnostics will continue at this time. Patients will be contacted directly if their scheduled surgeries or diagnostics tests are affected.
• In-patient visitation to hospitals or health centres will be suspended, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis for patients receiving end-of-life care, in labour and delivery, as well as in pediatrics.
• Designated family caregivers may continue to visit personal care homes. General visitation may be suspended with exceptions in place for end-of-life care. General visitation to outdoor visitation shelters will be implemented, once operational.
52 new cases of COVID-19 were added in the Southern Health region on Friday.
The City of Portage la Prairie has 20 active cases — recording one death and 61 total cases.
