Manitoba unveils reopening plan to have 'One Great Summer'
Manitobans now have something to look forward to this summer as the province announced its reopening plan on Thursday.
The plan, known as “4-3-2-One Great Summer,” will see more openings and fewer restrictions starting on Canada Day, depending on immunization levels.
Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, said this plan will help Manitoba move into a post-COVID world, but he noted this will not be the same as a pre-COVID world.
The plan focuses on four reopening categories, three summer holiday milestones, and two public health responsibilities according to Roussin.
The reopening categories are gathering and socializing, travel and tourism, shopping and services, and dining and entertainment.
The holiday milestones are Canada Day, the August long weekend, and Labour Day, while the two public health responsibilities are getting vaccinated and following public health orders.
Roussin said Manitobans getting vaccinated is paramount to ensure this reopening plan works and the province has set vaccine targets for the three holiday dates.
The province will move ahead with step one of reopening if 70 per cent of Manitobans 12 and older have received their first dose and 25 per cent have received their second dose by Canada Day.
Step two will start if 75 per cent of Manitobans receive their first dose and 50 per cent get their second dose by the August long weekend.
The third step will begin if 80 per cent of Manitobans receive their first dose and 75 per cent get their second dose by Labour Day.
If the targets are met by these dates, it could lead to businesses opening at 25 per cent capacity or greater by Canada Day, 50 per cent or more by the August long weekend, and limited restrictions by Labour Day.
Roussin said there is a reason why this plan doesn't include what specific businesses would be able to reopen as it gives the province some flexibility.
"The goal is that if we get these vaccine targets, we can start moving forward with these types of openings with these capacity limits, fairly broadly," said Roussin.
Premier Brian Pallister said he thinks this plan provides hope for everyone in the province.
"(It) is not that far away and I think that's going to be exciting to our small business community and we'll continue to offer as much support, both during this pandemic and in the recovery period, just as we did last year," said Pallister.
Pallister added while the targets are guidelines for the province, there is a chance to speed up the process if Manitoba hits the targets sooner. However, the opposite can happen as well.
"If we do worse, then we are not going to get our freedoms back as fast,” he said. “If we do better, then we might get them back faster. It is as simple as that."
Roussin said public health will continue to monitor the situation in the province as the summer progresses and make decisions that are best for Manitobans.
"The goal is to get to a post-pandemic Manitoba where we have public health recommendations and not restrictions,” said Roussin.
Both Roussin and Pallister said they hope the plan will be able to save the summer for Manitobans and start a path to a new normal.
The plan can be viewed below.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi found dead at helicopter crash site, state media says
Iranian president, the country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after a search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Toxic drugs circulating in northeastern Ont., police say
Canada’s largest First Nations police service, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service issued a community safety alert as extremely toxic drugs are likely circulating in many of the communities it serves.