On Monday, April 19, 2021, Manitoba Public Health announced changes to the restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“We have been carefully monitoring our numbers and epidemiology and are seeing a concerning trend in case numbers and test positivity rates, particularly in the aftermath of spring break and the Easter and Passover holidays,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer.
Beginning at 12:01 am on Tuesday April 20 the following additional restrictions come into force:
- all households may only have two designated visitors indoors;
- outdoor gatherings on public and private property limited to a maximum of 10 people including household members;
- faith-based gatherings limited to 25 per cent capacity or 50 people, whichever is lower, with indoor masks orders in place except while household groups are seated at a service, are appropriately distanced from other groups and are not singing; and
- weddings and funerals reduced to 10 people, in addition to an officiant and photographer.
- (effective April 21) Retail stores must be limited to one-third the capacity of the store or up to 333 patrons, whichever is lower and malls will be limited to 33 per cent of the facility’s capacity.
Public health officials say that the changes to the public health orders will remain in effect until Wednesday, May 12.
“Despite our best collective efforts and having some of the strictest measures in the country, COVID-19 cases and particularly variants of concern are on the rise,” said Premier Brian Pallister. “Introducing more restrictive measures is not what many of us want to hear right now, but it’s what we need to do to protect Manitobans and our health-care system. It is our goal that by acting quickly now, we can slow the speed of the third wave avoid a return to full shutdown in many sectors throughout our province.”
© News4.ca 2021
