WINNIPEG - Manitoba's top doc has announced more restrictions for the Winnipeg health region in response to a continued rise in COVID-19 case counts. Starting Monday, October 19, gathering sizes have been reduced from 10 to 5, and all bingo halls, casinos, large dining halls, and bars will be closed. Restaurants, retail, museums, and libraries to be at 50 per cent capacity. The maximum number of spectators allowed at after-school and sporting events will also go down to 25 per cent of each venue’s capacity.
No changes will be made to regulations for schools or daycares. Fitness centres, limited to 50 per cent of their capacity, and faith-based congregations, limited to 30 per cent, will stay under existing restrictions.
Dr. Brent Roussin says the decision to close businesses like bars while allowing restaurants to operate is based on how COVID-19 has been spreading recently. He notes that many of the recent cases in the city are among people in their 20s, while a relatively low number of cases were acquired in places like schools."
Dr. Roussin also says cases of coronavirus continue to rise in the city because some people are ignoring his public health orders. The province recorded a record 173 new cases yesterday including 133 in Winnipeg. Manitoba is now a leader in the country when it comes to per capita active cases of the virus. The new rules are expected to be in place for two weeks.
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