On Friday March 20, 2020, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister announced a province wide state of emergency to protect the health and safety of residents and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“This decision was not made lightly. However, we must continue to use every tool available to ‘flatten the curve’ and reduce the spread of COVID-19 on our communities and our health-care system,” said Pallister. “Our government is focused solely on the health and safety of all Manitobans. This move will enable us to react more quickly on a broad range of supportive measures to stop the spread for COVID-19 and ensure that essential services are available for all Manitobans during this global health pandemic.”
Manitoba’s chief public health officer, Dr Brent Roussin has ordered the following measures be put in place as of 4:00 pm Friday March 20, 2020, for the next 30 days:
1. Limiting public gatherings of more than 50 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises. This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals. This does not apply to a facility where health care or social services are provided. Retail businesses including grocery or food stores, shopping centres, pharmacies or gas stations must ensure separation of one to two metres between patrons assembling in the business. Public transportation facilities must also ensure that people assembling at the facility are reasonably able to maintain a separation of one to two metres from others assembling at the facility.
2. Limiting hospitality premises where food or alcohol is served or any theatres offering live performances of music, dance and other art forms such as movies theatres to 50 people or 50 per cent of the capacity of the premises, whichever is less. These establishments must be able to ensure social distance of one to two metres between customers.
3. Immediate closures of all bingo and gaming events.
4. All wellness centres offering physical activities, gyms, fitness centres and athletic clubs and training facilities will be closed.
Anyone who fails to follow public health orders could face fines of up to $50,000 and/or six months in jail. Corporations who fail to follow orders can face fines up to $500,000.
Roussin said that public health inspectors and peace officers could be used to enforce any Public Health ban during the state of emergency.
In order to prevent hoarding pharmacies are being told to limit the amount of drugs patients get to a one month supply.
Elective surgeries (non-urgent) will be suspended as of Monday March 23, 2020. This is being done, according to public health, to ensure staff, beds, equipment and supplies remain available for COVID-19 response.
Manitobans are again being urged to stop international travel. “Now is not the time to be travelling, now is the time, if you can, to stay home,” said Roussin.
“The situation is constantly evolving and changing rapidly. Enacting a state of emergency will further our province’s ability to be nimble, act swiftly and support Manitobans when they need it most,” said Pallister.
© News4.ca 2020
