Winnipeg 
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister got a look at the province’s new COVID-19 vaccination centre at Winnipeg’s Convention Centre, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The Manitoba government is loosening some of its COVID-19 restrictions as its case numbers continue to drop.
“These changes, once again, are cautious changes to ensure we continue to protect and safeguard Manitoba lives,” Premier Brian Pallister said Tuesday.
Starting Friday, people will be allowed to have another entire household visit in their home, and outdoor public gatherings can increase to 10 people from five.
Maximum capacity at stores and restaurants will increase to 50 per cent from 25, and indoor religious services can run at 25 per cent capacity, up from 10.
Licensed establishments can reopen their video lottery terminals.
Some facilities, such as casinos, bingo halls and concert venues, must continue to remain closed.
The province brought in significant restrictions last fall that shut down restaurants and limited group sizes after a surge of infections, hospitalizations and deaths.
Changes Effective March 5:
The following changes will go into effect March 5 at 12:01 a.m. and will expire on March 25:
Households and gatherings:
Households can choose one of the following:
-
- continue designating two visitors to their home; or
- designating a second household so that two households can visit each other, as long as everyone in the house has authorized those designated individuals to visit.
- gathering limits at an outdoor public or private place to increase to 10 people including for outdoor non-organized sport or recreation activities; and
- places of worship to have increased capacity size of 25 per cent or 100 people, whichever is lower, with physical distancing measures in place and mask requirements.
Business, retail and restaurants:
- any types of business to be able to operate with the exception of indoor theatres, indoor concert halls, casinos and bingo halls;
- retail stores, malls and personal services to have increased capacity limits of up to 50 per cent or 250 people, whichever is lower, with other public health measures still in effect;
- restaurants and licensed premises to have increased capacity limits of up to 50 per cent, with the requirement for tables to sit with only household members, and other public health measures still in effect;
- businesses other than casinos to resume operating video lottery terminals, with physical distancing measures and barriers in place; and
- professional theatre groups, dance companies, symphonies and operas to resume rehearsals that are not accessible to members of the public.
Recreation and fitness:
- day camps for children to operate at 25 per cent capacity with other public health measures in place;
- indoor recreation and sporting facilities such as gyms, fitness centres, rinks, courts, fields, ranges, studios, clubs, pools and centres to open at 25 per cent total capacity, with public health measures in place including for spectators, common areas and locker rooms. The requirement to provide one-on-one instructions has been removed;
- gym, fitness centre and pool users must continue to wear a mask while working out and in all other areas of the facility, with the exception of while in a swimming pool;
- dance, theatre and music facilities to open for a total capacity of 25 per cent;
- indoor recreational facilities such as arcades, go-kart tracks and children’s facilities to open at 25 per cent capacity with physical distancing measures in place.
The number of new cases has significantly dropped in recent weeks. On Monday, the five-day test positivity rate was at 3.9 per cent provincially and three per cent for Winnipeg.
Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, said there are still a number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19. He also warned there are variants of concern present in the province.
“We know that the virus itself is still circulating in Manitoba,” he said.
The loosening of some restrictions is not a sign that life is returning to normal, he added. People must remain cautious, wear a mask and stay home if they are ill.
“We are getting closer,” Roussin said. “But we still have more work to do.”
With Files From The Canadian Press
