The Manitoba government announced Nov. 10 that the entire province will be moving to the red or critical level on the province’s Pandemic Response System effective 12:01 a.m. Nov. 12.
All social gatherings will be forbidden under the new restrictions and critical retail businesses such as pharmacies and groceries stores will be allowed to continue operating at 25 per cent capacity. All other stores will be limited to providing online sales and curbside service or delivery. Restaurants will be limited to providing take-out and delivery services. Gyms, fitness centres, recreational activities and sports facilities must shut down. Religious gatherings will also be prohibited and casinos, libraries, museums, galleries, concert halls, hair salons, barbers and businesses providing personal esthetic services such as manicures must shut down.
Schools and child care centres will remain open, said chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin at a Nov. 10 news conference.
"Keeping schools and child care centres open is important for our children,” he said. “We’re not seeing widespread transmission of the virus at schools.”
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister also announced new support programs for small businesses, including a bridge financing program that will provide up to $5,000 this year and possibly an additional $5,000 in early 2021. The province’s wage subsidy program to support businesses that rehire staff will also be changed so that proof of having spent the funds will not be required before funding is advanced. Small businesses who received $6,000 conditional loans through the province’s gap funding program will not have to pay it back, Pallister said.
“It’s clear that further action is needed and this action is needed now to protect Manitobans,” said Roussin. “We need to turn these [COVID-19 case] numbers around and we need to turn them around now. We are truly at a crossroads in our fight against this pandemic.”
Pallister said 100 per cent of Manitobans need to get on board with restrictions and abide by them to help flatten the COVID-19 curve again.
“These measures today are not easy measures to announce and they’re not easy for you to enact,” the premier said. “The next few weeks are not going to be easy.”
