Southern churches moving to Red: Critical

Churches in Southern Health–Santé Sud health region will need to follow new gathering size restrictions starting on Monday.

Due to the moving to Red on the Pandemic Response System in the Southern Health, churches will go from a 30 per cent maximum capacity to a 15 per cent max capacity. Previously churches could have a maximum of 250 people, but that has been reduced to 100.

This mimics the restrictions in the Winnipeg Metro Region. 

This will last for at least two weeks.

Faith gatherings can spread the virus due to prolonged time in enclosed spaces. 

If a facility has a 15 per cent capacity of 150, they will not be allowed to have more than 100 people in the facility. Roussin says the province has seen the spread of COVID-19 at more than 10 faith-based gatherings.

Prairie Mountain Health and Interlake–Eastern health regions are currently  Orange. Gatherings are reduced to 20 per cent or 250 people, whichever is lower, in those areas.

Regular church gatherings on Sunday, November 7, will not be affected by the upcoming restrictions.