The first phase of Manitoba's response to COVID-19 pandemic has been reacting to the public health emergency by introducing increasingly restrictive measures to reduce the spread of the disease. We are now in a position to ease these restrictions and support economic recovery by taking measures to restore some services.
As more information becomes available and data on the current situation in Manitoba is analyzed, some measures may need to be reintroduced or new restrictions implemented to reduce any further spread of the virus. The timing and order of any actions taken may change throughout the process, based on modelling, testing, public health surveillance and public health advice.
Read Manitoba's phased approach here.
The chief provincial public health officer is issued orders under The Public Health Act as approved by the minister of health, seniors and active living.
The following measures are in place immediately:
- Public gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises.
- This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals.
- This does not apply to a facility where health care or social services are provided including child-care centres and homeless shelters.
The following measures will be in place as of 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1:
- All restaurants and other commercial facilities that serve food are prohibited from serving food to customers in their premises. This prevents eat-in dining at all facilities. However, restaurants and other commercial facilities can prepare and serve food for delivery or takeout. If this takes place, the operator of the restaurant must ensure that all persons maintain the appropriate social distancing from other customers when picking up food.
- All businesses that are not listed in the schedule of critical services that accompanies the order must close between April 1 and April 14.
- This closure order does not prevent these businesses from operating on a remote basis.
- A business may accept orders on the Internet, or over the phone for delivery or pickup, as long as the employees are not working at the place of business.
- The order does not prevent employees or others from coming into the business to perform repairs, to provide security services or to take out items from the business premises if the business is going to operate on a remote basis. o Nothing in the order restricts the operations of delivery of services by the federal or provincial governments or a municipality.
- Nothing in the order restricts any activities of a publicly-funded agency, organization or authority that delivers or supports government operations or services, including health-care services. This means the order does not affect institutions, agencies and other service providers who provide health- care services such as hospitals, regional health authorities and private agencies who provide a range of health services.
- All businesses listed in the schedule of critical services that accompanies the order may continue to operate. If these business allow members of the public to attend the place of business, the operator of the business must put in place measures to ensure that appropriate social distancing rules are followed.
- The order does not affect how members of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba or the College of Midwives of Manitoba provide health-care services under the order. Any other health professionals may continue to practice if they are providing services for a publicly-funded agency (such as a government or a regional health authority) or a business listed under the schedule. In addition, health-care providers can continue to provide emergent or urgent care (such as dental surgery).
- Municipal transit services, taxis and other private vehicles for hire can continue to operate. The operator of the vehicle must take measures to ensure there is a reasonable separation of persons in a vehicle. This order does not contain specific distance restrictions because it is hard to impose a limit in small vehicles. The goal is to ensure a reasonable level of spacing between people.
The orders and additional information is available at Manitoba.ca/COVID19
Businesses with questions about these orders can submit them in the questions section of this page.
The Manitoba government has worked with our business stakeholders to provide a collection of resources to assist workplaces and employers with common concerns.
You can access all of this information on Manitoba.ca/COVID19
