Manitoba public health is considering moving the province to the ‘restricted’ (orange) level and loosening more restrictions.

Prior to that happening the government is once again asking Manitobans to provide feedback by filling out a survey. The survey asks questions about Manitobans’ perspectives on the risk of the virus and their comfort levels with different activities.

The province is also asking those who fill out the survey when restrictions should be relaxed.

“Thanks to Manitobans’ efforts we are once again in a position to consider loosening additional restrictions as we learn to live this virus. As a government, we are focused on creating an environment for a sustained reopening of our economy so businesses can safely reopen and stay open,” said Premier Brian Pallister.

Under consideration are possible changes to gathering limits, expanding restaurant indoor capacity, Allowing households and designated visitors to sit together in restaurants, expand capacity in retail businesses, expanding the capacity of religious services, allowing organized indoor team sports and remove the requirement for youth to wear a mask while participating in indoor sports.

Other restriction changes could see theatres, concert halls, casinos and gaming centres reopen at limited capacity.

The province is also proposing removing the 14-day self-isolation for those who travel domestically across provincial borders for business reasons who do not have symptoms.

Under the proposal, changes to indoor and outdoor gathering sizes in private residences are not changing.

“While we expect to see cases increase as we continue to reopen the economy, we have to accept that COVID-19 is here to stay for many years. This means we all need to learn to live with this virus and find ways to assess our risk without having to implement long-term lockdowns,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer.

The provincial survey can be accessed at https://engagemb.ca/restartmb-pandemic-response-system.