As COVID-19 numbers continue to slowly decline, and vaccine numbers go up, the Manitoba government is asking residents for their input on the next steps in reopening the province.
Premier Brian Pallister says the province is looking at changing its level on the Pandemic Response System.
“We’re now in a position to consider, and I emphasize the word ‘consider’, moving the province to level orange or restricted on the Pandemic Response System,” Pallister said in a news conference Thursday. “and this will allow us to continue to safely, and I emphasize the word ‘safely’, restore our services and activities.”
Possible changes to the public health orders include:
–increasing gathering limits at an outdoor public places to 25 people;
–increasing gathering limits at weddings, funerals and other gatherings to 25 people;
–expanding capacity at religious services to a 25 per cent or a 250-person capacity, whichever is lower, with other public health measures still in effect.
–expanding the capacity limits for retail stores to 50 per cent or a 500-person capacity, whichever is lower, with other public health measures still in effect.
–allowing people to eat at the same table with other people in the indoor area of a restaurant, as long as everyone seated at a table has designated those individuals to visit them in their home.
–allowing organized team games at indoor sporting facilities.
–allowing youth to not wear a mask while taking part in an indoor sporting activities, but requiring mask use in other areas of the facility.
–enabling indoor theatres, indoor concert halls, casinos and gaming centres to open at 25 per cent or a 250-person capacity, whichever is lower, with other public health measures still in effect.
–removing the requirement to self-isolate for 14 days for interprovincial/domestic travellers who travel for business reasons and do not have symptoms.
Manitobans can visit www.engagemb.ca to provide their input on the potential easing of restrictions, as well as their thoughts on a timeframe to do so, whether it be before or after Easter and Passover, considering the spike in cases, the province says, after Thanksgiving.
The possibility of public health orders changing again follows minor changes announced last Friday (Mar. 12) and in effect as of last Saturday (Mar. 13).
Those included removing the requirement of wearing a mask for household groups attending a church service, as long as they’re appropriately distanced from other groups and are not singing; and allowing outdoor dining on patios at restaurants and licensed premises for groups up to six people from different households.
The current public health orders are in effect until March 25.