Manitoba is going to the public for feedback on the next stage of the province's COVID-19 economic reopening plan.
Premier Brian Pallister presented a proposed plan for the third phase of the province's reopening during a June 11 news conference. The phase three proposal, which is not currently in practice, includes increasing capacity at restaurants, loosening provincial borders and larger group gathering sizes.
鈥淢anitobans deserve to be rewarded for - in the vast, vast majority - doing the right things to help us win this battle,鈥� Pallister said.
鈥淲hat I'm clearly doing with these comments today is planting the seed, which should not be a seed of doubt in anyone's mind, that we'll have to go back. I hope we don't have to go back. I hope Manitobans continue to do the right things, that we're going to be making more progress.鈥�
Maximum gathering sizes in the proposed plan would increase to 50 people for indoor gatherings and 100 people for outdoor events.
Restrictions on non-essential and non-camping travel into northern Manitoba have not been changed in the proposal and would remain in place, although people from select other provinces will be allowed to travel directly to northern campgrounds and lodges. Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C. and northern Ontario residents will be allowed to travel above the 53rd parallel, with the same restrictions Manitoba residents had. This means travel would only be authorized for essential purposes and for direct transport to camping areas, lodges and similar areas. Residents from those areas would also be able to travel to southern Manitoba without self-isolating for fourteen days in the proposed plan.
鈥淲e really applaud the work of our first nations leadership in this province,鈥� Pallister said. 鈥淯nlike other provinces, our First Nations leadership has effectively kept the case numbers almost non-existent. That is tremendous work.鈥�
Non-essential travel from southern Manitoba to the north is still banned and travel from the north to southern Manitoba is discouraged.聽聽Residents of communities close to Flin Flon in Saskatchewan have been able to come and go to Flin Flon without needing to self-isolate during the pandemic.
International travel will still require a fourteen day self-isolation upon return because of federal regulations.
鈥淭here's a price to be paid for closing the borders for too long,鈥� Pallister said.聽
鈥淚 think many small business people would say they've already been paying that price. There's also a social price and not being able to visit family and friends in neighboring jurisdictions. We're trying to restore our lives.鈥�
Northern testing will also be receiving a boost, with four GeneXpert machines for rapid COVID-19 testing sent to northern Manitoba. Tests in Thompson, The Pas, Norway House Cree Nation and the Percy E. Moore Hospital at Peguis First Nation can now be processed on-site, sometimes in as little as an hour.
No firm date has been set for when phase three may come into effect in Manitoba. Provincial officials have said at least four weeks will be required in between phases to evaluate the effects of reopening.
鈥淲hile we can take pride in the progress we've made and the additional steps that we're considering today, we must remain vigilant,鈥� Pallister said.聽
鈥淚 want to stress if public health results begin to deteriorate and our guidelines are not sufficient, phase three measures may be paused and previous measures may be reintroduced.鈥�
Manitoba residents can read and provide feedback to the plan before June 16 at engagemb.ca.
