Manitoba prolongs restrictions, eyes mall crackdowns

WINNIPEG • Manitoba is extending its COVID-19 restrictions for another two weeks as hospital capacity remains pushed near the limit.

The government is also planning a new crackdown on shopping malls and some workplaces.

“Our health-care system is under great strain,” chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Thursday. “Our (intensive care) numbers, our hospitalization numbers are extremely high and still expected to climb.”

A ban on social gatherings, both indoors and out, that was due to expire Saturday will now run until June 12. There remains a small exemption for people who live alone, who are permitted to meet with one other person.

A rule that requires only one person per household to enter a store or other public-facing business is also being extended to June 12.

Public schools in Winnipeg, Brandon and some other areas that were switched to remote learning earlier this month will have to continue until the week of June 7.

Stores and shopping centres can remain open at 10-per-cent capacity. But after hearing reports of people meeting up at malls for social purposes, the province is giving marching orders to security staff.

“These malls are directed to evict people who are gathering with others,” Roussin said.

Roussin also promised a new, more-targeted approach to employers that will see specific workplaces forced to close when transmission of the virus occurs.

The announcement came as health officials reported eight deaths — the highest one-day total in the third wave of the pandemic — and 297 new cases.

Manitoba has seen the highest per-capita rate of new infections in Canada in recent weeks, and has started shipping some intensive care patients to other provinces to free up beds.

Premier Brian Pallister urged people to get vaccinated and follow the public health orders.