Manitoba is going red.
The province announced that all health jurisdictions, including those in northern Manitoba, will move into 鈥渞ed鈥� on the province鈥檚 pandemic response system, increasing restrictions province-wide and including another lockdown on most businesses and services.
The new restrictions will go into effect Thursday for the entire province.
Social gatherings of any size will not be permitted and people鈥檚 social contacts will need to be reduced to their household.
Retail businesses listed as 鈥渃ritical services,鈥� including pharmacies and grocery stores, will be allowed to operate at a maximum of 25 per cent capacity, while retail businesses not considered critical will only be able to provide online service, curbside pick-up or delivery.
All personal service businesses will be closed, including hair salons, barbers, nail technicians and similar businesses. Gyms and fitness facilities must also close.
All religious gatherings, including church services, must either close or be held virtually. Restaurants must be closed to the public, opening only for delivery, drive-thru services or for takeout only. Weddings and funerals will be limited to five people only.
All recreational activities, including sports facilities, casinos, libraries, theatres and museums, must also shut down, along with all indoor and outdoor sports.聽
Non-essential travel to and from northern Manitoba will see further restrictions.
鈥淲e are truly at a crossroads in our fight against this pandemic. The measures we have put in place over the last number of weeks, while they have been restrictive, have obviously not been nearly enough,鈥� said Manitoba chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin in a Nov. 10 press conference with Premier Brian Pallister.
鈥淲e need to turn it around and we need to turn it around now.鈥�
"We are all vulnerable to COVID-19 and we need to ensure that our health care system is there for all Manitobans when they need it," said Pallister.
The Premier appeared with Roussin Nov. 10 to discuss the new restrictions.
"Every province from British Columbia to Quebec has had their highest number of cases during the second wave," said Pallister.
"We have been chasing COVID-19 for a while now... I believe profoundly that with the cooperation and assistance of all Manitobans, we can and we will get back to beating COVID-19."
Schools and childcare centres will remain open and will see little, if any, changes, with Roussin saying there has been little widespread transmission within Manitoba schools. Blending learning will be in effect for Grades 9-12 where distancing cannot be done as per previous health orders, while Kindergarten-Grade 8 students will be able to move to remote learning temporarily. Schools and education facilities across the province are currently under the "orange" level of the pandemic response system.
Within the health care system, patients in need of non-urgent and elective surgeries will be contacted if their procedures are affected by the restrictions.
While some Manitoba regions have not been hit as hard by COVID-19 as others, Roussin said increased case loads have created difficulties for medical staff and health workers across the province.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a number of things. The test positivity has climbed in all jurisdictions,鈥� said Roussin.
鈥淲e do see a trend in the wrong direction. We see the number of contacts per case trending in the wrong direction.鈥�
In Manitoba, COVID-19 has surged in recent weeks, with over 5,000 active cases within the province and outbreaks and possible exposures in health facilities, nursing homes, shelters for the homeless, schools and other facilities.
Within northern Manitoba, the region has 248 active cases of COVID-19 as of Nov. 9. There are two active cases within the Flin Flon/Snow Lake/Cranberry Portage/Sherridon health district, with over a hundred active cases in the The Pas/OCN/Kelsey district alone.
Advice from Roussin for members of the public included working from home whenever possible, reducing non-essential travel, sending only one person per household out to shop when possible and to keep a mental note of people you have come in contact with recently.
鈥淟ive as if you鈥檇 need to make a list of your contacts,鈥� Roussin said.
The province will issue increased fines for breaches and failure to comply with the new health orders 鈥� $1,296 for individuals and up to $5,000 for corporations.
鈥淐OVID-19 has been resilient, but Manitobans will be more resilient,鈥� Roussin said.
鈥淭hese next few weeks will be difficult for many. We know that, but these measures will help save lives.鈥�
