Non-essential business shutdown extended as social-distancing proves effective

Public Health orders have been extended for another two weeks as officials say the latest low COVID-19 numbers show social distancing measures have been effective. 

The orders were to expire April 14 but are now extended to April 28.

On Monday, Chief Public Health Officer Brent Roussin reported four new cases, bringing the total to 246 in Manitoba. However, only 32 tests were conducted Sunday as a result of low demand over the Easter weekend. A total of 17,245 tests have been performed since early February.

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He says the continued low COVID-19 numbers mean Manitoba has bought their health system more time to prepare, adding Manitoba is still in the early stages of the battle with the virus.

Under the extended public health orders:

• Public gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises. This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals. This does not apply to a facility where health-care or social services are provided including child-care centres and homeless shelters.
• All restaurants and other commercial facilities that serve food are prohibited from serving food to customers in their premises. This prevents eat-in dining at all facilities. However, restaurants and other commercial facilities can prepare and serve food for delivery or takeout. If this takes place, the operator of the restaurant must ensure that all people maintain the appropriate social distancing from other customers when picking up food.
• All businesses that are not listed in the schedule of critical services that accompanies the order must remain closed.
• This closure order does not prevent these businesses from operating on a remote basis.
• A business may accept orders on the Internet, or over the phone for delivery or pickup, as long as the employees are not working at the place of business.
• The order does not prevent employees or others from coming into the business to perform repairs, to provide security services or to take out items from the business premises if the business is going to operate on a remote basis.
• Nothing in the order restricts the operations of delivery of services by the federal or provincial governments or a municipality.
• Nothing in the order restricts any activities of a publicly funded agency, organization or authority that delivers or supports government operations or services, including health-care services. This means the order does not affect institutions, agencies and other service providers who provide health-care services such as hospitals, regional health authorities and private agencies who provide a range of health services.

Any person concerned about their exposure to or risk of having COVID-19 should call Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 to be screened to see if a test is required.

For up-to-date information on community screening sites, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/locations.html.