Manitoba looking for feedback on easing COVID-19 restrictions

The Manitoba government is seeking feedback from Manitobans on its plan to move forward to safely restore services and activities, while balancing the needs of the health care system, Premier Brian Pallister and Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer announced today.

“The current public health orders – which have been in place for over two months – were put in place to halt the spread of this deadly virus and save lives,” said Pallister. “These orders are working, thanks to the willingness of Manitobans to follow them.   At the advice of Dr. Roussin and our health care leaders, we are now in a position to consider reducing some restrictions and safely restoring our services and activities that so many Manitobans have sacrificed throughout this pandemic in order to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community.”

The province has launched a survey on EngageMB.ca and invites Manitobans to share feedback on their priorities for potential easing of the current COVID-19 restrictions. The survey asks questions about people’s perspectives on the risk of the virus, COVID-19 vaccines and their comfort levels with different activities.

The survey also asks about priorities to safely restore services, including possible changes to gradually expand retail shopping, re-open barbershops and salons, gyms and fitness centres, non-regulated health professions, restaurants, faith-based and ceremonial gatherings and organized recreation and sport and possible increases to indoor, outdoor and household gathering sizes.
 
For more details on each option and to provide your feedback, visit EngageMB.ca/restartmb-pandemic-response-system.

This survey builds on prior steps taken to connect with Manitobans throughout the pandemic on public health orders, pandemic planning and more.

“While our test positivity rates, case numbers and hospitalizations are starting to come down and Manitobans are starting to get vaccinated, it is crucial that Manitobans continue to follow the fundamentals so we do not lose sight of the gains we have made these past few months,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer. “While we consider ways to carefully re-open Manitoba, we must always consider the needs of our health care system and limit the activities which we know cause the greatest risk.”

Since April 2020, more than 304,000 participants have engaged with the Manitoba government on COVID-19 issues through telephone town halls, online surveys, public opinion research and other engagement opportunities on EngageMB.  

“From the very beginning of this pandemic, our government has endeavoured to reach out directly to Manitobans and ask for their input, ideas and feedback on a variety of measures designed to keep Manitobans safe, while balancing the needs of our health care system and economy,” Pallister added. “Our goal right now is to move forward, not backward. We want to create a sustainable path forward where our businesses and communities can reopen safely, and stay open. I look forward to hearing from Manitobans as we work together to build a heathier, safer, more prosperous future.”

For more information on Manitoba’s current pandemic response, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID-19.

(News Release – Manitoba)