2 Winnipeg restaurants given $2,542 fines for defying health orders

A pair of Winnipeg restaurants have beendinged with$2,542 fines for failing to comply with provincial health orders around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pony Corral on Pembina Highway,south of Chevrier Boulevard, and theArabesque Hookah Cafe and Restaurant on Corydon Avenue near Hugo Street, were both ticketed on Wednesday, according to a Manitoba health protection report.

Bothfailed to comply with orders instituted on May 4.

That'swhen Phase 1 of the province's reopening strategy began, which allowedrestaurants to reopenpatio services.

Under the rules, restaurants have to ensurepeople on patios are seated at least two metres apart,and that thorough cleaning is doneevery time a customer leaves including cleaning tables, chairs, condiment containers andany other shared itemslikemenus and napkin dispensers.

Dining rooms were required to remain closed under the health order.

The Pony Corral's breach involved having too manypeople on its patio, a spokesperson for the province said, while Arabesque was fined for operating its indoor dining room.

Neither restaurant has responded to an interview request from CBC News.