In compliance with new restrictions announced Friday, the City of Winnipeg closing down all recreation and leisure programs and services.

The city says this includes suspending all Leisure Guide programming and closing all city-owned and operated recreation facilities, gyms, indoor pools, arenas, and libraries.

The closures became effective Friday evening.

No employee layoffs are planned at this time, according to the city, who says they plan to redeploy staff who are impacted by the closures.

Visitors at parks, including skate parks and playgrounds, are required to maintain a social distance of at least two metres from individuals who are not from their hosuehold.

Also in tandem with the new provincial health orders, groups of more than five people will not be permitted in city parks or on athletic fields as of 12:01 a.m. Sunday, May 9. Park booking requests continue to be suspended until further notice.

Community centre closures will be at the discretion of each facility's management. The City says that while community centre facilities and assets are owned by the City, each centre acts as its own legal entity and is  governed by its own volunteer board of directors. 

"We will review the formal public health orders once released to determine whether there are any additional impacts to our services," the City says in an email release Friday.