Manitoba launches COVID-19 reopening plan

The Manitoba government has launched its safe summer reopening path with more openings and fewer restrictions for Manitobans beginning by Canada Day, Premier Brian Pallister announced today.

“Summer is coming and vaccines are here,” said Pallister. “Our ‘4-3-2-One Great Summer’ Reopening Path rewards Manitobans with greater freedoms and fewer restrictions on our lives and economy as more and more of us get vaccinated.”

The 4-3-2-One Great Summer Reopening Path sets out a clear path for more openings and fewer restrictions as vaccination levels rise over the course of the summer. It focuses on the four reopening categories Manitobans value most, three summer holiday milestones for phasing out COVID-19 restrictions, and the two public health responsibilities Manitobans must continue to follow to ensure the province can reopen and stay open.

These include:
• four reopening categories – gathering and socializing, travel and tourism, shopping and services, and dining out and entertainment;
• three holiday milestones – Canada Day, August Long Weekend and Labour Day; and
• two public health responsibilities – getting vaccinated and following public health orders that lower the risk of COVID-19.

Key to reopening safely is Manitoba’s collective progress in getting vaccinated and reducing COVID-19 spread in communities and hospitals. Each holiday milestone for reopening will have a one-dose and two-dose immunization goal to guide progress in keeping Manitobans safe.

The immunization targets are:
• over 70 per cent of all Manitobans aged 12 and over have received their first dose and over 25 per have received their second dose by Canada Day;
• 75 per cent or greater of all Manitobans aged 12 and over have received their first dose and over 50 per have received their second dose by the August long weekend; and
• 80 per cent or greater of all Manitobans aged 12 and over have received their first dose and over 75 per have received their second dose by Labour Day.

“This reopening path aligns with public health advice on phasing out restrictions as more Manitobans get vaccinated,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer. “This path to reopen businesses, services and facilities and our ability to gather with each other relies on Manitobans getting that second dose while continuing to follow the public health orders, and I encourage everyone to book their first and second doses as soon as possible.”

Reopening activity levels will be tied to the first and second dose immunization targets including:
• meeting vaccine targets by Canada Day means businesses, services and facilities can open at
25 per cent capacity or greater levels;
• meeting vaccine targets by the August long weekend means businesses, services and facilities can open at 50 per cent capacity or greater levels; and
• meeting vaccine targets by Labour Day means businesses, services and facilities can open with limited restrictions.

“The more of us who get vaccinated, the faster we can regain our freedoms and enjoy what we’ve lost this past year and a half,” said Pallister. “There are two ways to reopen safely – getting vaccinated as soon as you are able and continuing to follow the public health orders.”

For more information on the 4-3-2-One Great Summer Reopening Path, visit:
www.manitoba.ca/covid19/prs/reopening/index.html

(Province of MB News Release)