COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba

The first three cases were reported on March 12.[2] All of Winnipeg's cases were identified after March 12.[3] In Manitoba's first case, the person had returned to Winnipeg from the Philippines, and self-isolated at home.[4] Officials initially announced the first probable case that could not be linked to travel or contact with known patients on March 18, but the case was later determined to be a false positive.[5] The province later confirmed on April 1 that they had seen evidence of community spread in Winnipeg.[6]

On April 2, officials announced that a worker at a personal care home in Gimli had tested positive, and that nine residents were showing symptoms of respiratory illness, but later confirmed on April 5 that the worker's case was a false positive.[7][8]

Shelves void of disinfectant and sanitiser in a Winnipeg supermarket.

On March 20, there was an incident at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg that exposed numerous employees to the virus, including nurses, doctors, therapists, health care aides, and security guards.[9] By April 3, approximately 100 employees had been required to isolate themselves.[10] Following the event, four nurses at the HSC had tested positive for COVID-19, as well as health care workers at Saint Boniface Hospital and Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, a hospital in Selkirk, and a personal care home in the St. Vital area of Winnipeg.[10]

Manitoba reached 100 known cases on March 31, and 200 cases on April 5.[11][12] The province reported its first death from COVID-19 on March 27.[13] The first two recoveries were reported on March 29.[14]

On April 16, the province stated that about 56% of the 250 known cases were directly linked to travel.[15]

The number of daily new cases diminished through mid-April, and on April 17, the province announced that the number of known recoveries from COVID-19 had overtaken the number of known cases in Manitoba.[16]

In May, the number of new cases continued to decline, with 13 reported in the first 27 days of the month, and only 6 new cases reported after May 12.[1] On May 23, the province announced that there were no COVID-19 patients remaining in the province's hospitals.[17]

On March 20, a provincial state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Measures Act by Premier Brian Pallister, effective for 30 days.[19][20] The order restricted public gatherings to no more than 50 people, required retail stores and public transit to enforce social distancing, limited hospitality businesses and theatres to 50 people or half their normal capacity, whichever is less, and shut down all fitness facilities. Breaches of the order could trigger fines of up to $50,000 or six months imprisonment.[19] On March 30, further directives under the Public Health Act came into effect, which reduced the maximum size of public gatherings to 10 people, and required retail businesses to ensure one to two metres of separation between customers.[21]

On April 1, the province ordered the closure of all non-critical businesses to the public, including bars, hair salons, massage parlours, and dine-in restaurants (delivery and take-out would still be allowed, with some restaurants having already done so voluntarily). The order would last for at least 14 days, but could be extended.[22] On April 3, Pallister appealed to people refusing to comply with social distancing recommendations, calling them "thoughtless and stupid" during a press conference.[18]

As of April 9, health orders issued pursuant to the state of emergency became enforceable under provincial law, starting at $486 for individuals and $2,542 for businesses. In Winnipeg, by-law officers were authorized to issue fines of up to $1,000 to those violating the orders in municipal parks, and Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman warned that a penalty of up to six months in jail would be possible in extreme circumstances.[23] On April 13, the province extended the closure on non-essential businesses by an additional two weeks, and stated that distancing measures would likely continue into the summer.[24]

On April 15, an emergency sitting of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba was held, in which legislation was passed that granted province's chief public health officer the power to restrict travel within Manitoba and to order individuals to take precautionary measures, such as self-isolation. It also gave the cabinet the authority to fix prices for essential goods, and to establish penalties for price gouging.[25]

On April 20, Pallister announced a 30-day extension of the province's state of emergency, while also setting a goal for Manitoba to be the first Canadian province to reopen its economy.[26]

On May 4, Manitoba began the first phase of lifting its economic restrictions, including allowing non-essential medical services, outdoor recreation facilities, barber shops and hair salons, restaurant patios, museums, art galleries, libraries, retail businesses (including shopping malls), and campgrounds to re-open, subject to social distancing and other guidelines issued by the province.[27] On May 22, the group size restrictions were loosened to allow 25 people at indoor locations and 50 people at outdoor gatherings.[28]

Phase 2 came into affect on June 1, allowing restaurants and bars to re-open at half of their capacity (subject to social distancing), as well as gyms, pools, spas, manicurists and estheticians, all subject to social distancing and other guidelines. Drive-in church services were also allowed. Daycare capacity was expanded to 24 children, and one-on-one tutoring and small group assessments in elementary and secondary schools became allowed as well (but still remaining closed for regular in-class instruction for the rest of the school year).[29]

On June 11, the province published a draft of planned protocols for Phase 3, which would tentatively begin on June 21. They include plans to increase gathering size limits to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors, allow daycares to return to full capacity, and allow day camps with a capacity of 50. Some interprovincial travel restrictions may also be lifted, capacity limits for restaurants may be increased, and indoor recreation facilities (excluding cinemas and casinos) may be allowed to reopen at half capacity.[30]

• COVID-19 pandemic in Canada