Manitoba officials have confirmed which restrictions will be relaxed under the new public health orders taking effect this Friday.
Premier Brian Pallister provided the update on Tuesday morning alongside Manitoba's top doctor, Dr. Brent Roussin.
“With fewer restrictions, we must remain cautious, in fact, even more cautious. In the absence of COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government, following the fundamentals is how we continue to protect each other and save lives.”
Which Restrictions Are Being Relaxed
As of 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12 — the following health order will go into effect and last for three weeks:
• allowing restaurants and licensed premises to reopen at 25 per cent capacity with patron groups limited to members of the same household only
• allowing outdoor sports facilities to reopen for casual sports as well as organized practices and games, with multi-team tournaments not permitted
• allowing gyms, fitness centres and yoga studios to reopen at 25 per cent capacity
• allowing indoor sporting facilities such as rinks, gymnastic clubs and martial arts studios to reopen at 25 per cent capacity for individual instruction only
• allowing places of worship to hold regular religious services if a service does not exceed 10 per cent of usual capacity or 50 people, whichever is lower• allowing self-help groups for persons dealing with addictions or other behaviours to hold meetings at 25 per cent capacity of the premise where meetings take place
• allowing museums, art galleries and libraries to operate at 25 per cent capacity
• allowing personal service businesses, such as those providing pedicures, electrolysis, cosmetic application, tanning, tattooing or massage services to reopen at 25 per cent capacity
• allowing photographers and videographers to offer services to individual clients or those residing in the same household in addition to providing services at weddings, with the exception of visiting client homes
• allowing the film industry to operate fully with physical distancing and other safety measures in place
Click here for more details on the changes to the health orders.
Dr. Roussin says the new orders will allow for more of the activities and services Manitobans enjoy, but he added "we cannot let our guard down yet. Manitobans need to continue to follow the fundamentals at all times including staying home when sick, frequent handwashing and wearing masks."
The new measures will also bring the entire province under the same restrictions, where the northern region had previously been under separate orders to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the region.
Which Restrictions Are Staying The Same?
Under the new orders, some previously announced measures will remain in place, including:
• household visitor restrictions of up to two designated people,
• visits of five people plus members of a household on an outdoor private property,
• retail stores open at 25 per cent capacity or 250 people maximum with adequate physical distancing, and
• non-regulated health services, hair salons and barbershops open with 25 per cent capacity and adequate physical distancing
Feedback From Manitobans
The province says there were over 33,000 responses since Feb. 4 on EgageMB regarding the possible changes to the health orders.
• 65 per cent of respondents felt somewhat or very comfortable going to restaurants
• 57 per cent of respondents felt somewhat or very comfortable going to the gym or to a yoga studio
• opening food services was ranked the highest priority for respondents, followed by opening personal services like nail salons and tattoo parlors, allowing gyms to reopen for individual training and allowing outdoor organized outdoor sports to resume for games or practices.
Final survey results will be posted on the EngageMB website once compiled.
