COVID-19 fines issued in Manitoba to church, protesters, Corona Hotel

Manitoba's recent crackdown on COVID-19 includes a church, several anti-mask protesters and a small-town establishment called the Corona Hotel.

Premier Brian Pallister mentioned the hotel, located near Riding Mountain National Park, during a news conference Tuesday in which he talked about businesses and individuals accused of violating public health orders.

“One of the tickets had to be issued to a hotel in western Manitoba that had its beverage room open and had people playing pool in it,” Pallister said.

“That hotel was the Corona Hotel, which I have had a beer or two in my life and it's a nice hotel … but guys, don't do things like that. This is disheartening.”

The hotel's owner, however, said his beverage room wasn't open, at least to the public.

“The bar was closed,” Bob Fuglsang said when informed of the premier's comments.

The only person playing pool in the beverage room, Fuglsang said, was his five-year-old grandson.

Fuglsang said he was fined $1,296. That is the fine levied to individuals. Incorporated businesses are fined $5,000 for offences.

Dozens of individuals and businesses have been fined in recent days as the province continues to battle the highest per-capita rate of new COVID-19 cases in Canada.

One person was fined in relation to a church service held Sunday outside of Steinbach, southeast of Winnipeg, and more tickets in relation to the service were expected, a government news release said.

Sixteen tickets stemming from an anti-mask protest in Steinbach on Nov. 14 were also issued.

Another 28 tickets — worth $298 each — were handed out in the past week to people for not wearing masks in indoor public places, the province said.

Health officials reported 471 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday and 12 additional deaths.

The daily number of new cases has not dropped since the province enacted its latest round of restrictions 12 days ago. Retailers can only sell essential items in store and people are not allowed to have visitors in their homes, with some exceptions.

But the province's chief public health officer said the rate of growth has begun to slow.