COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba


The COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba is a viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019, a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2., 88,621 tests have been conducted in the Canadian province of Manitoba, with 415 confirmed cases of the disease, and 8 deaths.

Timeline

The first three cases were reported on March 12. All of Winnipeg's cases were identified after March 12. In Manitoba's first case, the person had returned to Winnipeg from the Philippines, and self-isolated at home. Officials initially announced the first probable case that could not be linked to travel or contact with known patients on March 18, but the case was later determined to be a false positive. The province later confirmed on April 1 that they had seen evidence of community spread in Winnipeg.
On April 2, officials announced that a worker at a personal care home in Gimli had tested positive, and that nine residents were showing symptoms of respiratory illness, but later confirmed on April 5 that the worker's case was a false positive.
On March 20, there was an incident at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg that exposed numerous employees to the virus, including nurses, doctors, therapists, health care aides, and security guards. By April 3, approximately 100 employees had been required to isolate themselves. Following the event, four nurses at the HSC had tested positive for COVID-19, as well as health care workers at Saint Boniface Hospital and Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, a hospital in Selkirk, and a personal care home in the St. Vital area of Winnipeg.
Manitoba reached 100 known cases on March 31, and 200 cases on April 5. The province reported its first death from COVID-19 on March 27. The first two recoveries were reported on March 29.
On April 16, the province stated that about 56% of the 250 known cases were directly linked to travel.
The number of daily new cases diminished through mid-April, and on April 17, the province announced that the number of known recoveries from COVID-19 had overtaken the number of known cases in Manitoba.
In May, the number of new cases continued to decline, with 13 reported in the first 27 days of the month, and only 6 new cases reported after May 12. On May 23, the province announced that there were no COVID-19 patients remaining in the province's hospitals.
In July, a spike of new cases began to emerge in Manitoba, centred primarily among communal Hutterite colonies.
On July 28, the province reported its first death from the virus since May 5, two months earlier.

Provincial government response

On March 20, a provincial state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Measures Act by Premier Brian Pallister, effective for 30 days. The order restricted public gatherings to no more than 50 people, required retail stores and public transit to enforce social distancing, limited hospitality businesses and theatres to 50 people or half their normal capacity, whichever was less, and shut down all fitness facilities. Breaches of the order could trigger fines of up to $50,000 or six months imprisonment. On March 30, further directives under the Public Health Act came into effect, which reduced the maximum size of public gatherings to 10 people, and required retail businesses to ensure one to two metres of separation between customers.
On April 1, the province ordered the closure of all non-critical businesses to the public, including bars, hair salons, massage parlours, and dine-in restaurants. The order would last for at least 14 days, but could be extended. On April 3, Pallister appealed to people refusing to comply with social distancing recommendations, calling them "thoughtless and stupid" during a press conference.
As of April 9, health orders issued pursuant to the state of emergency became enforceable under provincial law, starting at $486 for individuals and $2,542 for businesses. In Winnipeg, by-law officers were authorized to issue fines of up to $1,000 to those violating the orders in municipal parks, and Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman warned that a penalty of up to six months in jail would be possible in extreme circumstances. On April 13, the province extended the closure on non-essential businesses by an additional two weeks, and stated that distancing measures would likely continue into the summer.
On April 15, an emergency sitting of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba was held, in which legislation was passed that granted province's chief public health officer the power to restrict travel within Manitoba and to order individuals to take precautionary measures, such as self-isolation. It also gave the cabinet the authority to fix prices for essential goods, and to establish penalties for price gouging.
On April 20, Pallister announced a 30-day extension of the province's state of emergency, while also setting a goal for Manitoba to be the first Canadian province to reopen its economy.

Lifting of restrictions

On May 4, Manitoba began the first phase of lifting its economic restrictions.
PhaseEffective dateRestrictions eased
1May 4, 2020
  • Non-essential medical services, outdoor recreation facilities, barber shops and hair salons, museums, art galleries, libraries, retail businesses, and campgrounds were allowed to re-open, subject to social distancing and other guidelines issued by the province.
  • Restaurants allowed to offer outdoor dine-in on patios.
  • On May 22, the group size restrictions were loosened to allow 25 people at indoor locations and 50 people at outdoor gatherings. Practices in professional sports could also resume.
2June 1, 2020
  • Restaurants and bars allowed to offer indoor dine-in service at 50% capacity.
  • Pools and fitness facilities allowed to reopen.
  • Direct travel allowed to parks, campgrounds, lodges, etc. in Northern Manitoba.
  • Daycare capacity expanded to 24 children.
  • One-on-one tutoring and small group assessments in elementary and secondary schools became allowed.
  • Post-secondary art studios and labs allowed to operate with a maximum capacity of 25.
  • Spas, manicurists and estheticians allowed to resume service.
  • Outdoor "drive-in" religious services allowed.
  • Outdoor recreation facilities allowed to expand to full capacity with social distancing.
    • 3June 21, 2020
  • Group size limits increased to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors.
  • Capacity limits for retail establishments, restaurants, bars, and health care/therapy businesses may admit as many customers as they can while maintaining social distancing. Bars may not offer standing service or dance floors.
  • Daycares allowed to expand to full capacity.
  • Indoor recreation facilities and permanent outdoor amusement parks were allowed to open at half capacity.
  • Some interprovincial travel restrictions lifted for those travelling from Western Canada or Northwest Ontario.
    • 4July 25, 2020
  • Casinos, cinemas, and theatres allowed to reopen at 30% capacity.
  • Religious and spiritual services increased to a maximum capacity of 30%, with the requirement for cohorting removed.
  • Based on feedback from a survey conducted by provincial officials, several planned changes were adjusted and deferred, including casinos and cinemas opening at 50% capacity, lifting of self-isolation requirements for travel east of Terrace Bay, Ontario, and allowing standing service at bars.

    • Health care

    By March 14, the province was testing 500 patients per-day. All patients in Manitoba's intensive care units, as well as those admitted to a hospital for respiratory illnesses, have also been tested.
    On March 21, a drive-through testing centre opened in Winnipeg, at a site close to the Victoria General Hospital. As with walk-in testing centres, a referral is necessary to use the drive-through testing centre. As of March 21, 2020, there were four other walk-in test centres in Winnipeg, as well as test centres in Brandon, Thompson, Selkirk, Flin Flon, Steinbach and The Pas.
    On April 16, testing became available by-request for essential workers. The province also established an online cognitive behavioural therapy program for those suffering from anxiety as a result of the pandemic. On April 28, testing became available to any resident showing symptoms. On May 4, the province began to increase its testing of asymptomatic patients.

    Travel advisories and restrictions

    On March 15, Chief Medical Health Officer Brent Roussin issued an advisory against international travel, and recommended 14 days of self-isolation on return.
    On March 27, informational checkpoints were established at the Ontario and Saskatchewan borders on the Trans-Canada Highway, and on the Saskatchewan border on highways 16, 5, and 2. Vehicles entering Manitoba would be briefly stopped, and their drivers provided with an informational pamphlet on health risks and international travel restrictions.
    On April 17, it was announced that anyone travelling to Manitoba from outside of the province would be required by law to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival, although a 50-kilometer "buffer zone" exists in Northwestern Ontario. In order to protect vulnerable and remote northern communities, the province also restricted non-essential travel across the 53rd parallel. In Phase 2, these restrictions were softened to allow "direct" travel to sites such as campgrounds in the region.
    The self-isolation requirement for interprovincial travel was removed in Phase 3 for those travelling into Manitoba from Western Canada, Northern Canada, or Ontario west of Terrace Bay. Interprovincial travel from outside of these regions will also be exempted for those participating in a film production or professional sporting event, provided that 14 days of self-isolation are completed before travel, and that proper hygiene is practised whilst travelling to Manitoba.