Outdoor Gatherings Returning

WINNIPEG - Provincial public health orders will soon allow small outdoor gatherings on private and public property.

However, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin say most measures will remain in place to reduce the strain on Manitoba’s health care system and reduce COVID-19 transmission rates.

“Thanks to the efforts of Manitobans who have worked hard, stayed home, followed the fundamentals and rolled up their sleeves to get a vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones, we’re starting to see our COVID-19 case numbers trend in the right direction,” said Pallister. “While we are now in a position to allow some small gatherings outdoors, we are not yet ready to restart our services and activities as our health-care system is still facing significant pressures.”

The new set of public health orders start on Saturday at 12:01 a.m. and include provisions for outdoor gatherings with up to five people in public spaces and on private property.

Other restrictions remain in place including:

• indoor public gatherings are not permitted and visitors are not permitted indoors on private property, except in certain circumstances;

• requirements for employers to allow employees to work from home as much as possible;

• retail businesses may only operate at 10 per cent capacity or 100 customers, whichever is fewer, and only one person per household will be allowed to enter a business, with some exceptions, such as a single parent with children or someone who requires a caregiver;

• continued requirements for malls to manage capacity and access to eliminate gatherings and ensure compliance with shopping; and

• many businesses and organizations will remain closed for in-person service including gyms and fitness clubs, restaurants and bars (including patios), personal service businesses, museums, galleries and libraries.

These new orders will remain in effect for at least two weeks.