Premier Heather Stefanson and Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin announced on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 that public health restrictions would be relaxed in some areas over the next two weeks.
“Last week, we chose to extend public health orders to ensure the COVID-19 situation in Manitoba was stabilizing or improving, and we can see that continues to be the case,” said Stefanson. “This means we can be confident in moving forward with the next phase in our pandemic response, which is a gradual and cautious reopening. New public health orders will reduce restrictions over the next two weeks for private gatherings and begin a shift in how we address capacity limits and how and when we gather in public spaces.”
The relaxed orders will allow an increase in the number of people allowed at indoor gatherings on private property from 10 to 25 plus the household if all are fully vaccinated. Private gatherings are limited to 10 plus the household if anyone who is eligible is unvaccinated.
Outdoor gatherings on private property jumps to 50 people plus household if everyone is vaccinated and to 20 plus household if anyone who is eligible is unvaccinated.
Restaurants, food courts and licensed premises are limited 50 per cent capacity with a maximum of 10 people per table. Proof of vaccination will be required. Liquor sales must end at midnight.
Gyms, fitness centres, casinos, bingo halls, VLTs, museums, galleries, professional sports events, performing arts, movie theatres and concert halls are all limited to 50 per cent of capacity and proof of vaccination is required.
Indoor religious services and indigenous cultural events are limited to 25 per cent capacity or 250 people, whichever is lower when proof of vaccination is not required or 50 per cent capacity when proof of vaccination is required.
Indoor sports and recreation has a spectator capacity of 50 per cent with proof of vaccination. Those 12-17 will require proof of at least one dose of vaccine or a negative rapid test result within 72 hours for indoor and recreational sports. Tournaments will once again be permitted.
All retail can have 100 per cent capacity. Physical distancing and masks are required.
All workplaces can be open without restrictions. Businesses no longer have to report cases of COVID-19 to public health.
“To be effective, public health orders should only be as restrictive as we need at the time,” said Roussin. “Manitobans have largely stepped up and followed these rules when it was critical in our pandemic response and also chose to get vaccinated, which has helped us to protect ourselves, each other and the capacity of our health-care system. The data and modelling show that we are stabilizing and may have in fact passed the peak we expected from omicron. The next few weeks will be critical as we monitor these trends and determine if it is appropriate to reduce additional restrictions over the longer term.”
The new public health orders will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8 and will remain in place until Tuesday, Feb. 22.
© News4.ca 2022
