Manitoba moves forward with first step of reopening; gathering sizes increase, restaurants can reopen
With Manitoba meeting and exceeding its COVID-19 vaccination target, the province will begin its first step of reopening this weekend, increasing gatherings, reopening a number of retail businesses, personal services and restaurants, and giving fully vaccinated Manitobans more eased restrictions.
Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, joined by Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, made the reopening announcement on Wednesday.
This first step of the plan – which is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 26 – includes a general reopening, as well as eased restrictions specifically for fully vaccinated Manitobans.
The general reopening plan includes increased gathering sizes, raised capacity limits for retail services and a chance for shuttered restaurants to welcome back patrons.
Even with the reopening, the province said physical distancing and indoor mask use are still required.
GATHERING SIZES
- Gatherings on private property can increase to 10 people in addition to the members of the household, and will allow visitors to go inside homes for essential activities like using a washroom;
- Public outdoor gathering sizes will increase to 25 people.
RETAIL, PERSONAL SERVICES AND GYMS
- Retail businesses can open at 25 per cent capacity with a limit of 250 persons. There will be no limit on how many household members can shop together;
- Personal service businesses including hair and nail salons, estheticians, and barbers can reopen by appointment only at 50 per cent capacity;
- Indoor self-help gatherings can reopen at 25 per cent capacity with a limit of 25 people who must wear a mask at all times.
- Gyms and fitness centres can reopen for individual and group classes at 25 per cent capacity, with three metres distance between patrons;
- Dance, music and theatre classes, along with other organized recreation activities can reopen outdoors with up to 25 people, and can reopen indoors at 25 per cent capacity with a limit of five people. No tournaments will be allowed.
- Swimming and wading pools can reopen indoors and outdoors at 25 per cent capacity; and
- Summer day camps can reopen with a maximum of 20 participants in a group.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS
- Restaurants and bars can reopen at 25 per cent capacity indoors; however, only household members will be allowed to sit together unless all people at the table are fully vaccinated; and
- Restaurants and bars can reopen at 50 per cent outdoors. However tables will be limited to eight people but they do not have to be from the same household.
Roussin said the province will still require restaurants and bars to operate on limited hours similar to the previous waves of the pandemic. He said no specific hours have been set yet, but it will be earlier than usual.
FAITH-BASED GATHERINGS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
- Indoor faith-based and community gatherings such as powwows and sun dance ceremonies will be limited to 25 per cent capacity with a limit of 25 people who must wear masks at all times;
- Outdoor faith-based and community gatherings such as powwows and sun dance ceremonies will be limited to 50 people, as long as there is distance between households; and
- Outdoor weddings and funerals will be limited to 25 people in addition to photographers and officiants. Indoor weddings and funerals are still limited to 10 people.
THE EASED RESTRICTIONS FOR FULL VACCINATED MANITOBANS
Under the reopening plan, fully vaccinated Manitobans (meaning two weeks after receiving a second dose) can:
- Visit fully vaccinated loved ones in personal care homes or hospitals;
- Travel within Canada for essential and non-essential reasons without having to self-isolate when they return to Manitoba; and
- Eat indoors restaurants and bars with other friends and family who are fully vaccinated.
The plan will also allow fully vaccinated residents of personal care homes or congregate living facilities to take part in social or communal activities.
The province said, subject to approval from public health, large outdoor professional sports or performing arts events may allow fully vaccinated Manitobans to attend. It said the province will be working with these organizations to put proof-of-vaccination protocols in place.
MORE RESTRICTIONS TO BE EASED THIS SUMMER
Restrictions continue for museums, galleries, libraries, movie theatres and concert halls, along with casinos and VLTs.
While the province has kept casinos and movie theatres closed, Roussin said their reopening is in the works barring any dramatic shifts.
"We're going to be able to see that this summer," he said. "According to our plan as Manitobans continue to get vaccinated at the rate they are, we're going to see that."
More eased restrictions for fully vaccinated Manitobans will also be announced in July. The province said this will include increased capacity at weddings, funerals, and other gatherings.
Pallister said he will have more details about this early next week.
The province had unveiled the '4-3-2-One Great Summer' plan earlier in June, with plans to reopen if 70 per cent of Manitobans 12 and older had received their first dose and 25 per cent have received their second dose by Canada Day.
As of Wednesday, the province reported 71.6 per cent of Manitobans 12 and up had received at least one dose and 28.8 per cent have received two doses.
The next reopening target is scheduled for Terry Fox Day on August 2, if 75 per cent of eligible Manitobans receive their first dose and 50 per cent get their second dose.
The province said it will consider reopening earlier depending on the vaccination goals.
With files from CTV's Devon McKendrick and Kayla Rosen
Correction
EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this article contained an error saying indoor faith-based and community gatherings such as pow-wows and sun dance ceremonies will be limited to 50 people as long as each household is distanced.
It has been updated to say outdoor faith-based and community gatherings such as pow-wows and sun dance ceremonies will be limited to 50 people as long as each household is distanced.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.