**Following feedback from the public, the Manitoba government is releasing its plan to further ease public health restrictions and continue safely restoring services, effective June 21, Premier Brian Pallister announced today.
“Thanks to the efforts of all Manitobans and based on advice from our public health officials, I pleased to announce that we are in a position to move forward once again in our phased approach of restarting our economy,” said Pallister. “Thousands of Manitobans provided their input and feedback on numerous proposed measures for Phase Three of Restoring Safe Services, and their support for our plan to further ease public health restrictions is reflected in the next steps of our economic recovery roadmap.”
The premier noted more than 25,000 Manitobans participated in a public telephone town hall to ask questions, voice their concerns, support and feedback on the draft plan of Phase Three of Restoring Safe Services: Manitoba’s Pandemic and Economic Roadmap for Recovery. As well, the province has received nearly 5,100 online submissions to https://EngageMB and over 32,000 responses on the school restart survey from parents and students.
The final plan being released today is based on public health advice, consultation with key sectors and feedback from the public, the premier added.
Key changes made following public feedback include:
• removing the maximum capacity of 300 people at any site provided the gathering can be physically divided into sub-groups of 50 or fewer indoors or 100 or fewer outdoors, to a maximum 30 per cent of usual capacity;
• allowing people from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and people living in the area of the northwestern Ontario (west of Terrace Bay) to visit Manitoba without having to self-isolate for 14 days;
• ensuring those travelling to northern Manitoba must continue to respect any restrictions that have been put in place by local communities and First Nations;
• lifting self-isolation requirements on a case-by-case basis where sectors propose and provide satisfactory plans to address public health requirements for necessary travel; and
• lifting capacity limits for restaurants, bars, beverage rooms, brew pubs, microbreweries and distilleries, as long as tables and seating are arranged so there is a temporary or physical barrier, or two metres of separation between people sitting at different tables.
Detailed information on the plan for Phase Three, including service restoration, measures the public can take to reduce their risk of COVID-19 exposure or spreading the virus, and workplace guidance for businesses, can be found at www.manitoba.ca/restoringsafeservices.
“Current indicators show the risk of community transmission of the virus in Manitoba is low at this time, so we are now able to further ease restrictions while ensuring Manitobans still practice the fundamentals that got us to this stage,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public heath officer. “As businesses and communities expand the services they offer, all Manitobans must continue to practise physical distancing with others outside their households, wash their hands often and stay home when they are sick to further reduce the risk of spreading the virus.”
The province continues to encourage businesses to take steps to help staff, customers and visitors stay safe including:
• ensuring people are able to reasonably maintain two metres of distance;
• only conducting necessary and brief exchanges within two metres of others;
• applying enhanced cleaning protocols, especially in common areas like washrooms;
• maintaining physical distancing and food-handling protocols in workplace areas including lunch and common areas;
• ensuring staff stay home when feeling sick; and
• following personal risk reduction measures.
Since May 21, Manitobans have engaged over 124,000 times through online surveys and telephone town halls to provide feedback on the Restoring Safe Services roadmap and restarting schools.
The premier also noted the province is developing a rapid response system to guide future decisions and any additional reopening steps that may be considered. Each level will include a risk assessment and a range of measures that may be in place at that level. As work continues to monitor the spread of the virus, the province may move up or down the rapid response/’stoplight’ scale as indicators change.
“While we can take pride in the progress we’ve made and the additional steps we are announcing today, we must remain vigilant,” said Pallister. “If public health results deteriorate or guidelines are not sufficient, Phase Three measures may be paused and previous measures may be reintroduced. I’m confident that we will continue to be successful if we keep working together as a team.”
The survey for the third phase and the plan to restart Manitoba schools will be open until June 21. Manitobans are encouraged to visit https://EngageMB to share their views.
A comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at:
https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html.