Social gatherings banned, non-critical businesses closed as all of Manitoba moves to red alert level

A strained health-care system and some of the worst COVID-19 trends in the country are behind the decision to forceManitobainto a weeks-long shutdown unlike what's been seen in the province since the pandemicemerged lastspring.

"We are truly at a crossroads in our fight against this pandemic," said Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussinon Tuesday, when he and Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement.

Starting Thursday, Manitobans are banned from socializing with people outside their ownhousehold, as the province moves into the red or criticallevel of its pandemic response system.

The move includesa ban on faith-based gatherings, and masked-up gym work outs.Playing team sports or going to the salon or movies will also be out of the question. Non-essential retail shops will be closed but may do delivery and pickup. The same goes for restaurants.

WATCH | Manitoba implements shutdowns as COVID-19 cases soar:

Manitoba implements shutdowns after entering critical COVID-19 territory

4 years ago

Duration 2:01

The entire province of Manitoba is going back into lockdown mode. It's a last-minute bid to turn infection rates around before deaths spiral. But for some Manitobans, the only surprise is that it took this long.

Schools and child-care centres will stayopen because, despite hundreds of cases, there have been only a small number of confirmed transmission events or outbreaks in the K-12 system, said Roussin.

This"short, sharp set of restrictions" could last up to four weeks, said Roussin, and the move comes on the heels of a series of gradual measures this fall that havefailed to stem the spread.

'We need to turn these numbers around'

In terms of new case counts, Manitoba has seen only triple-digit days these past three weeks. More cases were announced Tuesday than were reported in the first four months of the pandemic.

New provincial records for test positivityhave become commonand escalating rates of hospitalizationare among the worst in the country.

There areover 200 COVID-19 patients in Manitoba hospitals that number is about seven times higher than it was a month ago.

"We need to turn these numbers around, and we need to turn them around now," Roussin said.

Dr. Jill Horton of Winnipeg is one of hundreds of doctors whosigned a letter to the province last weekurging them to do more, and she praised the restrictions Tuesday.

"I think it's a critical and important first step," said Horton. "Thrilled to see that we're doing this today. A big sense of relief among me and my colleagues, and I think most Manitobans as well."

Some exceptions

The widespread closures may be in effect for a minimum of two weeks but likely four, or two incubation periods of the virus, Roussin said.

They include a restriction on travelling to and from northern Manitoba.

Retail stores considered criticalmay remain open at 25 per cent capacity.Businesses essential to industries deemed critical, including agriculture and construction, can continue operating.

The orders don't affect regulated health professions such as massage therapy, physiotherapy or dentistry, Roussin said.

Small business boost

Pallisternoted the lockdownswill deliver a serious blow to the local economy, but said it's time to "hit the circuit breaker."

As a result, the province is rolling out a series of financial supports for businesses impacted by the closures.

WATCH | 'Further action is needed,'saysManitoba's top doctor

'It's clear that further action is needed and this action is needed now to protect Manitobans'

4 years ago

Duration 3:26

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, announced new COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday, as the entire province is moved to the red, or critical, level on the pandemic response system.

Those include the Manitoba bridge grant, whichwill provide $5,000 before Christmas to businesses that apply, with the possibility of another $5,000 in the new yearif necessary, Pallister said.

A provincial gap funding initiativewhich Pallister said 10,000 small businesses that didn't qualify for the federal wage support previously made use of will change. It's going from a conditional loan to a grant that employers will not have to pay back, Pallister said.

Care home crisis

The financial boosts and severe shutdowns came after weeks of phased measures that didn't have the desired effect in the Winnipeg metropolitan area.

Tighter restrictions came into effect in the province's Southern Health region Monday as it entered the red alert level, about a week after Winnipeg.

But test positivity rates continued to soar through those restrictions.Experts say anything higher than a three per cent test positivity rate warrants widespread closures.Manitoba hit a record10.6 per cent on Tuesday.

Manitoba is also struggling to manage several deadly care home outbreaks akin to whatOntario and Quebec struggled with in the first wave.

The latest information from Revera, the for-profit company that runs the Maples Long Term Care Home and Parkview Place in Winnipeg, suggests over 40 residents have died between thosetwo facilities. Dozens more staff and residents have testedpositive.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority this week responded bysending a chief executive nurse of Deer Lodge Centre, Kathleen Klaasen, to be stationed at the Maples care home starting Tuesday.

The Canadian Red Cross is also sending staff to the care homeson Friday, and the health minister has ordered independent investigations into Parkview and Maples.

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowmanand Opposition Leader Wab Kinew have both urged the province to consider calling in the military to help.Pallister and Roussin said Tuesdaythey won't be doing that right now.

'Bend the COVID curve'

In recent weeks, the government hasbeen criticized for not being proactive enough in anticipation of the second wave.

On Tuesday, Pallister suggested more than once that the current wave of criticism is being largely directed at public health officials such as Roussin. Meanwhile, Horton's letter and others signed by hundreds ofdoctors, nursesand teacherswereaddressed to the premierand to the health and education ministers.

Pallister has also threatened to crack down on people ignoring public health orders and recently doubled fine amounts.

He repeated a stern warning he's issued several times lately, and he did sovia a kind of sports analogy he frequently uses.

"We have a chance to bend the COVID curve,and we need everyone on the team. And if you don't want to be on the team, be prepared to pay for it."