A number of outdoor activities are still on the table for Manitobans to enjoy during code red restrictions.
Public health officials have provided some guidelines for safely enjoying the physical & mental health benefits of the outdoors, while limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Activities like cross country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, hiking and running are all allowed — as long as group sizes are no more than five people (there are group-size exemptions for families larger than five).
Manitobans are urged by the province to gather only with people they live with — but people from different households are allowed to gather outdoors in groups of five or less, as long as they maintain two metres distancing and cover their coughs.
Manitoba has no mask requirements for outdoor public places — but Dr. Brent Roussin explains there is still a risk of transmission with prolonged contact in more crowded outdoor settings.
The province says it’s okay if there are other groups in your vicinity, as long as people enjoying the outdoors stay within their groups and maintain physical distancing.
The current public health orders prohibit the use of dressing rooms, warming shacks and other indoor facilities associated with outdoor sporting that would provide an enclosed space and increase the risk of transmission.
Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms is asked to stay at home under current health orders.
Code red restrictions were recently extended through the holidays, set to expire January 8 — although health officials have indicated that timeline could be adjusted depending on how the COVID situation evolves.
