Phase Four: Restoring Safe Services

At this time parades must follow the regulations in place for all public gatherings. Public gatherings may have up to 100 people at an outdoor space. More people are allowed, provided that groups can be physically divided into sub-groups of 100 or fewer. Each sub-group must be able to arrive, depart and participate in the gathering without co-mingling with members from any other sub-group. Adequate physical distancing must continue to be provided for all participants. If there are food vendors, they must follow the relevant restrictions in place. Additional guidelines for those hosting events can be found at: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/index.html.

Condominiums are considered businesses under the public health orders. Amenities may reopen if they follow the same regulations for businesses that offer those services. Gyms must implement measures to ensure that members of the public are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from other members of the public. Gyms must also limit the number people present to 50% of the usual occupancy of the premises or one person per 10 square metres, whichever is lower. There does not need to be an attendant present if the intent of the public health orders can be met through other means. 

Public health officials have provided a number ways for gyms to further decrease their risk of COVID-19 transmission. This information can be found at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/index.html.

All outdoor sport or recreational facilities, including rinks, may operate at normal capacity outdoors if the organization implements measures to ensure that members of the public are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges.

Additional guidelines for outdoor sport or recreational facilities can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restoring/phase-two.html#collapse10. 

The province has developed guidance that will help participants and organizers consider the risks associated with recreational activities in Manitoba during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides examples of strategies that may be implemented to reduce potential risks. Each sport or recreational facility must establish a plan to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission between participants and spectators. Guidelines including the risk assessment and mitigation tool can be found online at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/sports-guidelines.html.

Organizations are responsible for their own plan and to ensure activities are in compliance with the public health orders. At this time the province will not be approving plans. If organizations have questions specific to health guidance around modifications they can contact AskHealth at https://forms.gov.mb.ca/Ask_Health.

For events held at venues that do not hold a liquor service license issued under The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act, provincial public health officials are advising against the use of dance floors and dancing as it is difficult to maintain physical distancing. If dancing does occur, the occupancy on the dance floor should be limited to ensure those dancing together can reasonably maintain a distance of two metres. 

Larger indoor group sizes at public gatherings such as weddings are allowed where distinct groups of 50 or less can be physically separated to prevent contact with other groups. This includes the members of the wedding party, who must remain in one sub-group for the duration of the event without co-mingling with members of other groups. The total number of attendees must not exceed 30% of the usual capacity of the space where the event is being held. Each sub-group must be able to arrive, depart and participate in the event without co-mingling with members from any other sub-group. Throughout the event, all attendees must be reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges.

Additional guidance for public gatherings can be found at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/phase-three.html#collapse1, and information for hosting events such as weddings can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restoring/celebrations-ceremonies-guidelines.html. 

At this time public gatherings such as weddings are allowed a maximum of 50 people indoors. Attendees must be reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges. 

However, larger group sizes are allowed where distinct groups of 50 can be physically separated to prevent contact with other groups. In this situation, the total number of attendees must not exceed 30% of the usual capacity of the space where the event is being held. Each sub-group must be able to arrive, depart and participate in the event without co-mingling with members from any other sub-group. This includes the members of the wedding party, who must also remain in one sub-group for the duration of the event without co-mingling with members of other groups. Adequate physical distancing must continue to be provided for all attendees.

Additional guidance for public gatherings can be found at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/phase-three.html#collapse1, and information for hosting events such as weddings can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restoring/celebrations-ceremonies-guidelines.html. 

Study groups at churches must follow the conditions for public gatherings. All people present, including children and infants, count towards the total number of people at the gathering. However, if children are being cared for in a separate space from where the gathering is taking place they would not count towards the number of people at the gathering.

Child care centres may open to their regular licensed capacity and provide care to children in accordance with The Community Child Care Standards Act. Consideration should be given to the use of communal space and drop off and pick up of children using staggered schedules and/or separate entrances/exits.

Additional information on public gatherings and child care can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restoring/index.html.

The public health orders distinguish between public gatherings and religious services with different conditions in place for each. Under the current public health orders for Prairie Mountain Health region, churches and other places of worship may open to hold regular religious services if the number of persons attending a service does not exceed 30% of the usual capacity of the premises or 500 persons, whichever is lower, and measures are implemented to ensure that persons attending a service are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from other persons at the service, other than a group of persons who are attending the service together.

If other gatherings, such as study group or church meetings, are held at a place of worship attendance must be limited to 10 people and masks must be worn, in accordance with the applicable requirements for an indoor public gathering. 

Wearing a mask is a tool that, in addition to practising public health fundamentals, may help prevent spreading COVID-19 to others, especially in indoor public spaces if physical distancing cannot be maintained. Wearing a mask alone will not stop the spread of COVID-19. While nothing in the public health orders restricts singing during worship gatherings, public health officials are strongly discouraging singing in large groups due to singing posing a higher risk of transmission than speaking. In addition, large choirs should not be held at this time. Infected people may transmit the virus over greater distances through their saliva or respiratory droplets while singing and when playing certain instruments such as wind or brass instruments. The number of vocalists and instrumentalists should be limited to soloists or small groups. It is also recommended that places of worship discourage congregational singing and chanting. At this time it is recommended that congregants hum along to the vocalist, instrumentalist or pre-recorded music and continue to follow the guidelines for places of worship as well as for vocalists. 

Business meetings are not considered public gatherings and there is no occupancy limit. However, if a meeting is open to the public, public gathering limits must be followed. It is recommended that staff attending the meeting can maintain a two metre physical distance from others. Guidance for businesses can be found online at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/guidance.html. 

Additionally, food service at meetings must follow the guidelines for restaurants/food service, which can be found at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/index.html.

Overnight camps for children are not permitted at this time. This applies to accredited camps as well as other organized groups such as church groups.

There are no changes to the guidelines and restrictions for gyms at this time. Conditions outlined in earlier phases continue to apply. Additional information for the fitness industry can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restoring/index.html. As this is an evolving situation, we encourage you to stay up to date. Updates to information on COVID-19 in Manitoba can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/.